Taking COSATU Today Forward, 2 March 2026 #IWD2026
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY International #WomensDay is coming on March 8… #GenderStruggle #EqualPay #ClassSolidarity #Cosatu40 #SACTU70 #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #CosatuCallCentre 010 002 2590 #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
Taking COSATU Today Forward
‘Whoever sides with the revolutionary people in deed as well as in word is a revolutionary in the full sense’-Maoo
Our side of the story
2 March 2026
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- NUM Post-NEC Statement
- NUM Women’s Structure alarmed by UFS Research Linking Sanitary Products to Harmful Chemicals; Demands Urgent Accountability
- Media Invite: SAMWU to convene its 13th National Congress under the Theme: “Towards 4 Decades and Beyond in Defence of Workers’ Interests”
- South Africa
- COSATU CEC Statement – February 2026
- COSATU calls for decisive action upon allegations of serious looting from the SA Army Foundation
- COSATU GEPF Pension Holiday Statement
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- SACP condemns imperialist US-Israeli military attack on Iran
- WFTU Statement on the imperialist attack against Iran
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
NUM Post-NEC Statement
Mpho Phakedi, NUM General Secretary, 02 March 2026
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) convened its Ordinary National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on the 25th and 26th February 2025 at the NUM College Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre (EBMTC). The NEC thoroughly assessed the struggles facing mineworkers, energy workers, construction workers, and metalworkers and resolved on the following issues.
1. Regional marches to target Eskom and relevant government departments.
The NEC has officially resolved to launch a series of coordinated regional marches across all 11 NUM regions. These mass mobilizations will target Eskom offices and various government departments to voice the union’s categorical rejection of the unbundling and looming privatization of the national power utility.
The NEC wishes to be unequivocally clear: We fundamentally reject the unbundling of Eskom in any form. Our long-standing position remains unchanged, regardless of the proposed structural or regulatory revisions.
This policy of separating Eskom into multiple entities (Generation, Transmission, and Distribution) is a neo-liberal project designed to dismantle a vital state asset and facilitate the wholesale privatisation of South Africa’s energy sector.
The NEC views the current trajectory of Eskom’s restructuring not as a solution to energy stability, but as a direct threat to energy sovereignty, job security, and the affordability of electricity for the working class and the poor.
The core objectives of these marches include:
Halting Unbundling: Opposing the fragmentation of Eskom into separate entities, which the union believes is a precursor to a full-scale sell-off.
Rejecting Privatization: Demanding that Eskom remains a 100% state-owned and state-funded utility dedicated to public service rather than private profit.
Protecting Jobs: Safeguarding the livelihoods of thousands of workers within the energy value chain who face uncertainty due to these structural changes.
Ensuring Energy Justice: Advocating for an energy transition that does not leave workers and communities stranded while electricity prices become prohibitive.
The NUM NEC has mandated all 11 regions to begin immediate preparations for these marches. We call on our members, civil society, and the broader working class to join us in defending a national asset that belongs to the people of South Africa.
Specific dates and logistical arrangements for each regional march will be communicated by the respective regional leadership in the coming days.
2. NEC Strongly Opposes Indefinite "Care and Maintenance" Status for Mines
The NEC wishes to register its strongest opposition to the growing trend of mining companies placing operations under "care and maintenance."
The NEC views the transition of productive mines into indefinite care and maintenance as a tactical manoeuvre by mining houses to bypass their social and labour obligations while holding mineral rights hostage. This practice effectively freezes local economies and leaves thousands of workers and their families in a state of permanent uncertainty.
Key Positions of the NEC:
Against Indefinite Stalls: The NEC asserts that mines cannot and must not be kept in care and maintenance indefinitely. If a company is unable or unwilling to operate a shaft, they must relinquish the right to those who are prepared to invest in the local economy.
Socio-Economic Impact: Care and maintenance is often a "slow death" for mining communities. The loss of active employment leads to the collapse of local businesses and a decline in the social fabric of the surrounding areas.
Demand for Accountability: The NUM calls on the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) to intervene and set strict timeframes for how long a mine can remain inactive before its license is reviewed or revoked.
The NUM remains committed to protecting the livelihoods of its members and ensuring that South Africa’s mineral wealth is used to benefit the people, not left dormant in the ground for the sake of corporate convenience.
3. NUM NEC is opposed to transmission asset transfer (ownership) to an independent TSO.
The NEC has noted the directive issued by President Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address of 12 February 2026 instructing that the assets of the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA) a wholly owned Eskom Holdings SOC LTD subsidiary, be transferred to a fully independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) outside of Eskom Holdings, despite the Energy Regulation Amendment Act not providing an express empowering provision for such an end state of ownership.
The NUM reiterates its well-established opposition to the unbundling of Eskom in any form. We have consistently maintained that separating Eskom into multiple entities risks serving the interests of private capital at the expense of workers, vulnerable communities, and the long-term energy security of South Africa. The President’s SONA directive does not alter this position. The NEC calls on all progressive trade unions, all progressive NGOs, all progressive political parties to unite and fight this neo-liberal pathway imposed by the government.
4. Health & safety remains a challenge at the workplace
Zero Tolerance for Fatalities
The NUM reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the principle of Zero Harm. One life lost is one life too many. We will not sit idly by while the mining industry treats fatalities as "statistical probabilities" rather than preventable tragedies.
Accountability at Ekapa Mine
We demand an accelerated search and rescue operation and a full, transparent investigation into the incident that has left five of workers missing. The families of these workers deserve answers, and those responsible must be held accountable.
We are prepared to take any necessary action to ensure that 2026 does not become another year defined by mourning and industrial negligence. Our members do not go underground to die; they go to work to provide for their families.
The struggle for a safe working environment is not a suggestion—it is a fundamental right that the NUM will defend with everything at its disposal.
We call upon the Department to speed up the process of releasing 2025 safety result; to allow stakeholders to plan better for the new year in terms of realizing Zero harm. We note with concern the already registered fatal accident in 2026. The sector seems to be losing this battle; the NUM will not allow that happens in the expense of workers.
5. NEC noted with deep concern suspension of operations at Phalaborwa Mining Company
The suspension, triggered by relentless heavy rains in the Phalaborwa area, has forced a total standstill of mining activities. The NEC is particularly alarmed by the company’s decision to place permanent mine employees on compulsory annual leave and the unilateral suspension of contractor agreements.
According to reports received by the NEC, the mine is currently battling a massive influx of underground water. Despite pumping out a staggering 48 million litres of water daily, the situation remains critical.
While we acknowledge the natural disaster elements at play, we call upon the management of PMC to expedite the recovery and dewatering efforts. The primary goal must be the safe and swift return of our members to work.
We insist that no worker should be sent back underground until a comprehensive safety assessment has been conducted and the underground environment is certified as 100% safe.
The NUM will continue to monitor the situation at PMC closely. Our members’ livelihoods depend on the operational stability of this mine, and we hope the current efforts yield positive results so that normalcy can be restored to the PMC.
6. NEC welcomes the SANDF Deployment to combat illegal mining.
The NEC officially welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist in the fight against illegal mining and the escalating wave of gang violence in mining communities.
The NEC views the presence of the military as a necessary and decisive intervention to restore law and order in areas that have been besieged by criminal syndicates. However, the NUM maintains that the deployment of soldiers is a temporary tactical measure that addresses the symptoms rather than the root cause of the crisis.
On Mine Rehabilitation and Food Security
The NEC is of the firm view that the long-term solution to illegal mining lies in the aggressive rehabilitation of old, abandoned mine shafts. These sites, which currently serve as hubs for illicit activities, must be closed permanently to eliminate the infrastructure that sustains "zama-zamas."
Crucially, the NUM calls for the state and the private sector to move beyond mere closure and toward land repurposing. The NEC proposes that rehabilitated mining land be converted for agricultural use.
While we appreciate the President's commitment to securing our communities through the SANDF, the bigger strategy must be economic and environmental. We cannot simply guard empty holes indefinitely. Mining houses must be held accountable where necessary. The government must compel the rehabilitation of these mines and facilitate their transition into agricultural hubs that feed and employ our people."
The NUM remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the mining industry benefits the working class and that mining communities are safe, productive, and sustainable.
7. NEC demands aggressive investment in mineral exploration.
The NEC is making a clarion call for a renewed and aggressive focus on mineral exploration. It is our firm belief that the discovery and extraction of new mineral deposits are the lifeblood of a thriving mining sector, serving as the primary engine for massive job creation and robust economic growth.
However, the NEC views the current landscape with deep skepticism; we are questioning whether investors and mining companies possess the genuine desire and "appetite" to commit to the long-term exploration of new minerals in South Africa. For too long, we have seen a trend of capital flight and a focus on short-term gains rather than the foundational investment required to un- lock the country's untapped geological potential.
Exploration is not a luxury; it is a necessity. To reverse the current economic stagnation, South Africa must identify the "minerals of the future" that will power global industrialization. The NEC emphasizes that the exploration phase is the starting point for addressing the unemployment crisis that continues to plague our communities.
We call on mining houses and financial institutions to move beyond rhetoric. The NEC demands a tangible commitment to exploration projects that will extend the life of the mining industry for generations to come.
The NUM will not sit idly by while the potential of our mineral wealth remains buried due to a lack of investment will. We demand a mining sector that is forward-looking, transformative, and committed to the industrial development of South Africa.
8. NEC strongly condemns the abrupt liquidation of Ekapa Mine, a reckless disregard for lives and livelihoods.
The NEC expresses its profound shock and absolute outrage at the sudden decision by the Board of Ekapa Mine to place the operation into liquidation with immediate effect.
This cold-blooded decision follows the harrowing incident two weeks ago where five workers were trapped underground following a mudrush. Rather than prioritizing the safety and well-being of its workforce, the company has chosen to abandon its obligations entirely.
Health and Safety Negligence
The NEC has been reliably informed of persistent and unresolved health and safety issues at Ekapa Mine. It is becoming increasingly clear that the company is using liquidation as a convenient escape route to avoid accountability for the lapse in safety standards that led to the recent underground disaster.
The NUM will not allow a situation where workers’ lives are treated as expendable line items in a corporate ledger.
The Socio-Economic Catastrophe
The immediate closure of Ekapa Mine is a devastating blow to the Northern Cape economy. Over 1,000 workers now face the grim reality of unemployment. Research confirms that one mineworker supports at least ten family members. This decision effectively sentences over 10,000 people in Kimberley and surrounding areas to immediate poverty and unemployment. This move further widens the gap of inequality in a region already struggling with limited economic opportunities.
9. The NEC deeply concerned by stalled acquisition of Cast Products South Africa
The NEC expresses its grave concern regarding the deteriorating situation at Cast Products South Africa, which has remained under Business Rescue since January 2022.
The NEC is particularly alarmed by the prolonged delay in finalizing the sale of the company from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to Metalbridge. This administrative inertia is now directly threatening the livelihoods of 700 workers and the long-term viability of the entity.
Operational Collapse and Non-Payment of Salaries and Production at Cast Products South Africa has been suspended since December 2025. Compounding this crisis, workers have not received their salaries for February 2026, and the Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) has failed to provide any guarantee regarding future payments.
The NEC further condemns the blatant infringement of workers' statutory rights. It has come to our attention that deductions for medical aid, tax (SARS), life insurance, and other benefits are being taken from workers' meager earnings but are not being remitted to the relevant institutions. This is not only unethical but potentially illegal, leaving workers vulnerable without the very social safety nets they pay for.
We call upon the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) to intervene immediately to safeguard these 700 critical industrial jobs.
As the primary shareholder, the IDC must provide the necessary bridge funding to sustain operations and ensure salary obligations are met until the transaction with Metalbridge is concluded.
The NEC calls for the immediate termination of the Business Rescue process. The current BRP-led model has failed to stabilize the company and is instead eroding the vital relationship between the company and its customer base.
We demand that the IDC and the Ministry act with the urgency this crisis deserves.
10. The NEC raises alarm over surge in fully built vehicle imports.
The NEC expresses its grave concern regarding the future of South Africa’s automotive sector. The industry is currently facing a coordinated assault from an unchecked influx of Completely Built-Up (CBU) automobile products from foreign nations, most notably China.
The NUM views this trend not merely as a trade imbalance, but as a direct threat to the industrial fabric of our nation and the livelihoods of thousands of workers.
Exploitation Without Investment
Foreign companies are increasingly treating the African market as a dumping ground for finished goods. These entities are exploiting local consumer demand without making any meaningful investment in the local economy. By refusing to establish manufacturing or assembly plants on the African continent, these corporations are exporting South African jobs and capital to foreign shores.
Regulatory Non-Compliance and Worker Exploitation
The NUM has identified specific hotspots of non-compliance, particularly within the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Eastern Cape. Our investigations reveal that certain foreign entities are flagrantly disregarding sectoral regulations. This defiance has resulted in:
The systematic underpayment of workers.
Sub-standard working conditions that undermine hard-won labour rights.
A "race to the bottom" regarding regional wage standards.
The NUM recently secured a landmark victory at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) against one of these entities. This victory confirms our stance that these companies are operating outside the bounds of South African labour law.
A Call for Ministerial Intervention
The NUM refuses to stand by while the automotive sector is hollowed out by predatory trade practices. We are calling for the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition to intervene immediately.
The NUM demands:
Strict Import Regulations: A review of tariffs and quotas on CBU units to favour local assembly and manufacturing.
Compliance Audits: Immediate, unannounced inspections of all foreign-owned automotive firms in the Eastern Cape and other SEZs to ensure total adherence to labour laws and sectoral determinations.
Local Content Mandates: Policy enforcement that requires foreign companies to invest in local production infrastructure if they wish to access the South African consumer market.
The future of South Africa as an industrial powerhouse depends on our ability to protect our domestic industries. The NUM remains committed to fighting for a sector that prioritizes local workers over foreign profit.
11. Black Mountain's Exploitative Outsourcing and Looming Retrenchments
The NEC stand against the egregious and exploitative outsourcing model being aggressively pursued by Vedanta Zinc International (VZI) and its subsidiary, Black Mountain Mine, which threatens mass retrenchments.
The NUM views this policy as nothing less than economic sabotage, social vandalism, and modern-day corporate colonialism. It reflects an arrogant disregard for workers and communities by VZI Chairman Anil Agarwal.
The NEC outrightly rejects this anti-worker, anti-community, and anti-development agenda. This outsourcing model is not about efficiency; it's about retrenchment, exploitation, and profit maximization at the expense of workers and the dignity of their labour.
The Devastating Impact of VZI's "International Best Practice"
We wish to remind the public what this so-called "international best practice" truly entails for our members and the surrounding communities:
Erosion of Workers' Benefits: Workers currently hold a 5% stake in the company through the Employee Profit Sharing Scheme. Outsourcing will strip them of this hard-won equity and prevent them from accruing vital retirement savings due to the unstable nature of contract work.
Loss of Family Homes: Employees housed in company-owned homes – many for over 30 years – face eviction. The NUM was in advanced negotiations to secure ownership of these homes, a historic process that outsourcing will abruptly cancel.
Destruction of Pension Security: The instability of contract work makes long-term retirement planning impossible. Our members will be cast into old-age poverty.
Social and Economic Instability: This model has already failed in the region, leading to an influx of vulnerable migrant labour, homelessness, and the uncontrolled expansion of informal settlements, which have become breeding grounds for poverty and crime.
Wage Regression and Exploitation: Workers employed by contractors are forced to start from entry-level wages, even with years of experience. This is economic violence.
Deepening Social Ills: The outsourcing system has demonstrably deepened poverty, homelessness, domestic instability, and crime. VZI's "cost reduction" narrative is directly leading to the uncontrollable establishment of informal areas, which become black spots of poverty and suffering.
Uncontrolled Retrenchments: VZI and its contractors have implemented reckless retrenchments over the past four years, driving up unemployment and desperation in the area.
12. Delays By DoEL regarding promulgating sector agreements in particular in construction and metal sectors
The NEC reflected on the impact; of the delays caused by the Department of Employment and Labour to workers. The NEC found it unacceptable that promulgations of agreements are delayed and workers are not paid their increases on time firstly; secondly loss on back-pay purely because the minister has not done the deed. We have resolved to engage with the ministry to find a solution collectively.
Unions in both Metal and Construction sectors Bargaining Councils must ensure that companies are forced to implement agreements as promulgated; as NUM we are ready to engage in the campaign to force the sectors and respective companies to implement timeously and be compliant.
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NUM Women’s Structure alarmed by UFS Research Linking Sanitary Products to Harmful Chemicals; Demands Urgent Accountability
Nthabiseng Mashiteng NUM National Women’s Structure Secretary, 1 March 2026
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Women’s Structure expresses its grave concern following research published by the University of the Free State (UFS) in the Science of the Total Environment journal. The study reports that several sanitary pads and pantyliners tested contain at least three endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), posing a direct threat to the health and well-being of women and girls across South Africa.
As an organization that actively distributes sanitary products to impoverished communities, the NUM Women’s Structure is deeply troubled by these findings. The potential for these chemicals to cause hormonal disorders, infertility, and cancers is a violation of the fundamental right to health and bodily integrity.
“The pursuit of profit must never override the right to life and the dignity of women,” says Nthabiseng Mashiteng, NUM Women’s Structure National Secretary. “We welcome the UFS study and call for immediate, transparent investigations to hold manufacturers accountable.”
A Call for Multi-Sectoral Intervention
The NUM Women’s Structure calls on the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), the National Consumer Commission (NCC), the Department of Health, and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to collaborate urgently. We demand a formal accountability process to protect the constitutional rights of women and girls.
Demands for Safety and Accessibility
Given the high levels of unemployment and poverty in our country, the NUM Women’s Structure reiterates its demand for free and safe sanitary products for all. We further advise women to prioritize products certified under the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or other verified safe alternatives where possible.
The health and safety of our members remains our primary responsibility. We will not remain silent while the most vulnerable members of our society are exposed to preventable health risks.
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Media Invite: SAMWU to convene its 13th National Congress under the Theme: “Towards 4 Decades and Beyond in Defence of Workers’ Interests”
Papikie Mohale, SAMWU National Media Officer, 25 February 2026
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) will convene its 13th National Congress from 17 to 19 March 2026 at Church Unlimited, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. Held under the theme “Towards 4 Decades and Beyond in Defence of Workers’ Interests,” this Congress marks an important milestone as the Union reflects on nearly forty years of militant struggle, organisational consolidation, and unwavering defence of municipal and water sector workers.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the open sessions of Congress on 17 and 19 March 2026.
The Congress will be addressed by the national leadership of the Alliance partners: The African National Congress (ANC), The South African Communist Party (SACP), The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). These addresses will engage the political, economic and social challenges confronting workers and outline the programme required to defend and advance working-class interests.
The 13th National Congress will deliberate on key organisational, political and collective bargaining matters, including strategies to strengthen the Union and respond decisively to the deepening crisis in local government.
Members of the media are encouraged to confirm their attendance with the National Media Officer, Cde Papikie Mohale, at pap...@samwu.org.za in order to secure accreditation by 10 March 2026.
Please note that only accredited members of the media will be allowed access to the Congress venue.
Issued by SAMWU Secretariat
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
COSATU CEC Statement – February 2026
Solly Phetoe, COSATU General Secretary, 28 February 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) held its first Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting of 2026 from 23 to 25 February, immediately following its Charity Golf Day CSI programme during which the National Office Bearers headed to Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape to donate school shoes and dignity bags to disadvantaged pupils in areas devasted by floods early this and last year.
Starting in 2024, COSATU has hosted a Charity Golf Challenge to help raise funds for its activities, school shoes and dignity bags for underprivileged pupils. Parents joined their children at the handover ceremonies across the three provinces and expressed their appreciation of COSATU’s efforts to restore the pupils’ dignity, enhance their school experience, confidence and wellbeing.
The last day of the CEC coincided with the tabling of the National Budget by Finance Minister Enoch Godogwana at Parliament. Regrettably, the Budget failed to respond decisively to the many dire crises facing the working class including the dangerously high unemployment rate of 41.1% and anaemic projected growth rate of 1.6% for 2026, struggling public and municipal services, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), entrenched poverty and inequality, endemic crime and corruption.
COSATU welcomes progress made in rebuilding and stabilising key SOEs. However, more must be done to support Eskom to reduce the price of electricity, return Transnet and Metro Rail to full capacity to unlock mining, manufacturing and agricultural jobs as well as to provide efficient public transport for urban workers.
The significant infrastructure investment of R1.07 trillion for energy, rail, ports, water, roads and airports will boost economic growth and create jobs over the long term. We note with disappointment the lack of turnaround plans to set Denel, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Post Office and Postbank on the path to recovery.
The Federation is aggrieved that once again Treasury shamefully failed to adjust the SRD grant for inflation to assist its more than 8 million recipients.
The CEC noted that 2026 marks significant milestones in the country’s liberation and democratic history including 70 years since the Women’s March in 1956, affirming women’s leadership and capacity for mass mobilisation; the 50th commemoration of the Soweto Uprising, highlighting the youth as a struggle driving force; and 30 years of the 1996 Constitution that laid the foundation for our democratic freedoms including our progressive labour laws.
The CEC resolved to develop a framework for the Federation’s Affiliates to consult workers on the SACP’s 5th Special National Congress resolution to contest the Local Government Election independently.
Extensive consultation is set to unfold towards the 15th National Congress when the Federation will make a considered decision.
COSATU will continue to engage both its Alliance Partners, the African National Congress and the SACP to ensure that the Alliance is radically reconfigured and strengthened, and that it is united as it heads towards the most contested local elections since 1994. This includes the modalities of the Alliance’s participation in the elections.
In keeping with the 8th Central Committee resolution to co-convene a Conference of the Left with the SACP, the CEC resolved to extend the invitation to progressive formations and left-aligned social movements with a shared socialist programme. The Conference of the Left is envisioned to provide a platform where the struggles of the working class and the poor are directly linked to the objective of advancing the National Democratic Revolution towards socialism, reaffirming the central role of working-class leadership in shaping the country’s political trajectory and reclaiming the agenda of the Alliance.
To achieve this, the Federation will intensify its political and ideological education and even extend it to the masses of our people.
Organisational Priority Campaigns for the First Quarter of 2026 include:
Working with unions
COSATU is assisting newly registered unions SADSAWU and SATDWU, organising domestic workers and taxi drivers respectively, to establish their base as they operate in difficult, unregulated sectors, making bargaining and enforcement of labour legislation challenging.
Recruitment and strengthening of private sector unions
Each private sector union has identified priority sectors and companies for recruitment and organising. The CEC endorsed the consolidated recruitment plan.
Public Sector Unions
The CEC resolved that GEMS should be fixed and repositioned as a transitional
mechanism towards NHI, including consideration of sector-based schemes where
appropriate.
Fight against corruption
The CEC resolved to call for the extension of anti-corruption investigations in all government departments, emphasising accountability for both major and minor offenders.
Local Government Elections campaign
COSATU’s Local Government Election programme will unfold in four phases comprising - focus on IEC registration, worker engagement, listening campaigns and recruitment.
National Gender Conference
The Federation is set to convene its National Gender Conference from 26 to 27 March as part of the organisation’s three-year accountability cycle. The Gender Office Bearers and Structure will report on the implementation of resolutions and programmes adopted at the Gender Conference in 2022. The Conference takes place at a time of sharpened gendered inequalities in the workplace and in society, particularly for women workers, workers with disabilities and LGBTIQ+ workers.
The care economy will be at the centre of deliberations at the Gender Conference, ensuring care workers are recognised, rewarded, and represented across all spheres of society. The COSATU 40 Women 40 Years Exhibition which documents and honours women workers, organisers and leaders who shaped the Federation over four decades will also anchor the Conference. The CEC resolved to expand the project beyond the initial 40 biographies, document more stories of women leaders and have the exhibition permanently installed at COSATU House.
Rising cost of living, electricity, and water crises
CEC resolved to coordinate a Cost-of-Living Campaign, which will form part of the 21 March Mass Action called for by the ANC.
Workers’ Day
May Day celebrations will take place across all provinces with the main national celebrations being hosted in Polokwane at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Socioeconomic
National Health Insurance
The CEC also resolved to intensify COSATU’s defense of the National Health Insurance considering the onslaught of legal challenges the Act is facing and the court agreement to pause proclamation of any section of the Act pending the Constitutional Court hearings scheduled for May 2026.
The CEC welcomed the Department of Health’s militant championing the NHI. COSATU will continue to support the NHI through organised mobilisation and action and not limit engagement to policy processes only.
The CEC reaffirmed its full and unconditional support for the implementation of Phase One of the National Health Insurance (NHI) as the foundation for universal healthcare, noting progress and ongoing court challenges. The CEC resolved to align COSATU campaigns with Phase One NHI implementation, intensify mass education, and recognise public awareness as the first line of defence in protecting NHI.
The CEC tasked its Health Committee to develop a simplified COSATU NHI education document for mass education within three months.
National Dialogue
The CEC welcomed COSATU’s participation in the National Dialogue. Representing Organised Labour, the Federation makes up part of the National Dialogue Steering Committee and is currently involved in developing a roadmap to ensure each of the sectors host their own dialogues.
Parental Leave
The Constitutional Court ruling declaring parental leave as outlined in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act unconstitutional as it discriminates on basis of gender and parental role, will undoubtedly be a talking point at the National Gender Conference. According to the interim arrangement put forward by the court, parents must share the combined four months and 10 days equally. COSATU’s engagements at Nedlac have ensured that mothers who gave birth will continue to be entitled to six weeks to recuperate before returning to work.
Community Health Workers
The CEC welcomed the ongoing absorption of Community Health Workers across provinces as permanent employees of the Department of Health, marking a momentous victory for the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), as it waged a relentless struggle and won.
The South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) is commended for securing overdue salary increases for municipal workers in Tshwane.
ANC’s 10-point Action Plan
COSATU remains deeply concerned by government’s GAIN strategy and the ANC’s 10-point Action Plan. The Federation is concerned it may see an entrenchment of neoliberal policies and austerity budgets. COSATU will be seeking continued engagements with the ANC and government on these. A detailed discussion paper guided by the 8th Central Committee socio-economic resolutions will be developed in response to the plan.
Retirement Conference
COSATU will host a Retirement Conference in June of this year as part of our campaign for comprehensive social security.
Industrial Fund
The CEC resolved to campaign for the establishment of a mass industrial fund to protect collapsing and strategic sectors, particularly mining and manufacturing.
Economic Summit
The CEC resolved to call for and support the convening of a special economic summit focused on rescue plans for key productive sectors, including mining, manufacturing, smelters, and related industrial value chains.
Smelters
The CEC resolved to continue to engage relevant Ministers overseeing smelters and related operations, to address job losses, industrial decline, and energy-related challenges.
Operation Vulindlela
The CEC resolved to engage government on its fears that Operation Vulindlela may commodify water and electricity, undermining constitutional rights, and threatening jobs and decent work.
Labour Relations Act Amendments
The CEC welcomed progress on labour laws amendments, the UIF Board, and the appointment of additional labour inspectors, and resolved to continue monitoring enforcement and implementation.
International
The CEC noted the substantial changes in the global power structure, political economy and their impact on the working class. South Africa’s assumption of the position of SADC Chairperson following the coup in Madagascar was acknowledged. Given the country is next in line to be Chair of SADC, South Africa will host all major SADC events for two consecutive years.
In solidarity with the people of Venezuela, Cuba and Palestine in their struggle to affirm sovereignty, peace and self-determination, COSATU participated in a variety of mass democratic movement activities, marches, pickets and protests across the country.
The CEC resolved to strengthen the monitoring and reporting of international political and socio-economic developments. The need to shift international solidarity towards coordinated working-class action was also expressed. On the back of hosting an International Roundtable on recent geo-political developments on 19 February, the meeting resolved to convene a dedicated workshop on international and economic issues, including developments on the African continent.
On Cuba, the CEC resolved to revive the historic solidarity it shares with the country, considering how Cuba stood with South Africa during its period of oppression.
This year promises to be a significant one for the Federation as it is set to hold the Workers’ Parliament, COSATU’s 15th National Congress in September.
Issued by COSATU
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COSATU calls for decisive action upon allegations of serious looting from the SA Army Foundation
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 01 March 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) calls for decisive action upon serious allegations of looting by senior Generals and other persons involved with the South African Army Foundation.
The Foundation is legally mandated to manage army and other military personnel’s pension, funeral and insurance benefits.
Reports by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) into instances of the illegal diversion of large amounts of money from the Fund into various Generals and other persons’ private bank accounts for personal self-enrichment are extremely concerning.
It is essential that the FSCA swiftly lay charges with the South Africa Police Service (SAPS). SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) must immediately charge, seize assets and prosecute those implicated. For far too long workers, including members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), have seen their hard-earned pensions treated as slush fund by their employers, fund managers and businesspersons.
Continuous allegations of serious corruption implicating senior SANDF officers need to be dealt with if our military leadership is to enjoy the confidence of rank and file personnel and the nation at large. The Presidency and Parliament need to crack the whip upon the SANDF’s leadership under whose watch such incidents of wanton abuse of positions of authority and public finances are becoming increasingly routine.
Whilst the FSCA, SAPS and NPA must urgently act upon the reports of massive amounts of pilfering at the SA Army Foundation, the rot in the SANDF goes far deeper and must be dealt with accordingly. The Federation has received numerous complaints from SANDF personnel alleging that they are no longer receiving three meals a day, are compelled to buy their own uniforms, vehicles are no longer working, training hours requirements are no longer met, personnel on deployment are not receiving the necessary equipment, supplies or support; and suppliers are left unpaid. These are threatening the ability of the SANDF to fulfill its constitutional obligations to the nation.
COSATU will be formally requesting that the President, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, task the Special Investigations Unit alongside the Auditor-General to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the SANDF and related institutions, and that law enforcement ensure that any persons implicated in criminal activities be immediately dealt with. Our military personnel dedicate their lives to serving the nation. This is the least that government can do for them.
Issued by COSATU
Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)
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COSATU GEPF Pension Holiday Statement
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 01 March 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has been made aware of false claims by Central News, an online news site, alleging that the Federation is in discussions with government on a contribution holiday for the Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF).
No proposals nor discussions on a GEPF contribution holiday have taken place as part of engagements on the 2026/27 Budget, the public service wage agreement or the current impasse with regards to the Government Employee Medical Scheme (GEMS) planned members’ premium hike.
It is deeply concerning that the article claims to have interviewed COSATU officials when no such interviews or even requests for comment have occurred.
The article appears to have been entirely generated by artificial intelligence and based upon old articles from previous years and budget engagements.
COSATU has attempted to contact Central News but received no response from their cellphone (which provides a message that it does not exist) nor their email addresses.
The Federation will be reporting this “news site” to the Press Ombudsperson for breach of the Press Code and action. In the era of fake news sites, it will be critical for the Press Ombudsperson to apply much greater scrutiny to platforms claiming to be legitimate news sites.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
SACP condemns imperialist US-Israeli military attack on Iran
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 28 February 2026
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has learned and is observing the ongoing imperialistic military attacks by apartheid Israel and imperialist US in Iran and condemns them as imperialistic and a violation of international law.
The joint military attack on Iran by Israel and the US is a continuation of an imperialistic policy of the US on the people of Iran. While this attack is reprehensible by all measures, it is not surprising to those who understand the workings of imperialism. The attack only serves to confirm the increasingly belligerent nature of the US-Israel imperialistic axis of power.
The loss of life even at this early stage of the military attacks reflects the extreme nature of the violence that has been unleashed on the people of Iran. The Israeli apartheid settler regime holds the position of an imperialist aggressor in the Middle East and has been initiating consistent acts of provocation towards Iran. This act is the climax of a series of actions where Israel has been deliberately creating conditions of war with a strong backing of the US.
Israel is not only an instrument of global US imperialism, but also a partner in imperialist efforts to impose US hegemony over the world and its natural and economic resources, and to subject all governments to US political and economic interests.
The cause of this war lies in the Israeli and US imperial agenda to undermine the sovereignty of all other nations in order to pursue its own interests. Any and all defensive actions of Iran emerge out of these well-orchestrated conditions of violence from the imperialist actors in this scenario and not out of vacuum.
As the SACP, we condemn the attacks on Iran. We pledge solidarity with the people of Iran. We call on all progressives forces and all anti-imperialist forces to join hands with us to demand the end of violence as perpetrated by the US and Israel.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
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WFTU Statement on the imperialist attack against Iran
by WFTU HQ, 01 Mar 2026
The WFTU strongly condemns the new imperialist attack by the US and Israel against Iran. The attack constitutes a blatant violation of every principle of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and brutally undermines the UN Charter and every concept of international law.
The attack threatens to ignite even greater escalation in an already burning region, with the sole aim of promoting the imperialist plans of the US and Israel in the wider Middle East.
Their invocation of supposed sensitivity to democracy and human rights in Iran is blatantly hypocritical. Such pretexts have been used in the past for similar raids, with disastrous and bloody results for the peoples and states of the region.
The course and future of Iran is a matter for its people, whose struggles WFTU always supported, and not a choice of foreign imperialist powers whose only interest is to use their military strength to promote their own geopolitical and economic interests in the region.
The WFTU expresses its undivided solidarity with the people of Iran and the peoples of the Middle East who are suffering from imperialist intervention and Israeli aggression, and calls on its affiliates around the world to mobilize in condemnation of the new military attack against Iran and for an immediate end to military operations.
– NO TO AMERICAN-ISRAELI IMPERIALISTIC RAID
– RESPECT FOR THE SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE OF STATES
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Norman Mampane (Shopsteward Editor)
Congress of South African Trade Unions
110 Jorissen Cnr Simmonds Street, Braamfontein, 2017
P.O.Box 1019, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa
Tel: +27 11 339-4911 Direct line: 010 219-1348