Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 14 July 2026
Norman Mampane
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Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin
‘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
14 July 2026
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- NEHAWU invites members of the media to a press briefing on the outcomes of its 13th National Congress South Africa
- South Africa-#ClassSolidarity!
- NUM vows to fight De Beers’ "devastating" plan to cut 1,214 jobs at Venetia Mine and DBSSSA
- SACP message of heartfelt condolences on the death of South African international and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Transforming Education Summit +4: Building resilience starts with supporting teachers
- KMWU strike over subcontracted workers’ bargaining rights
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
NEHAWU
invites members of the media to a press briefing on the outcomes of its 13th National Congress
Lwazi Nkolonzi, NEHAWU National Spokesperson, July 13, 2026
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] invites members of the media to a press briefing at which the newly elected National Office Bearers (NOBs) will present the key outcomes of the union's 13th National Congress.
The congress was convened under the theme: "Advance Workplace Organisation to Defend Collective Bargaining, Heighten Class Consciousness and Advance Internationalism”.
The media briefing will provide an opportunity for the union to outline the key political, organisational and socio-economic resolutions adopted by congress, reflect on the mandate arising from delegates, present the newly elected National Office Bearers, and
outline the union's programme of action in defence of workers, collective bargaining and quality public services.
Details of the Press Conference:
Date: Wednesday 15th July 2026
Venue: Protea Hotel North Wharf, 1 Lower, Bree St, Foreshore, Cape Town
Time: 12H00
Members of the media are invited to attend and to cover the press conference. For further information, please contact: Lwazi Nkolonzi (National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwa...@nehawu.org.za
Visit NEHAWU website: www.nehawu.org.za
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26th Commission for Employment Equity Report (CEE) Annual Report 2025/26
https://www.labour.gov.za/.../2026/26th%20CEE%20Report.pdf
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
NUM vows to fight De Beers’ "devastating" plan to cut 1,214 jobs at Venetia Mine and DBSSSA
Masibulele Naki, NUM National Health and Safety Secretary and NUM Diamonds Sector Chief Negotiator, 14 July 2026
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) strongly condemns the decision by De Beers and De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa (DBSSSA) to pause production at Venetia Mine for two years and issue a Section 189A notice, threatening the livelihoods of 1,134 permanent employees at Venetia Mine and a further 80 employees at DBSSSA.
The NUM views this announcement as a devastating blow to workers, their families, and the communities that depend on Venetia Mine and DBSSSA for survival. In total, 1,214 workers now face retrenchment.
The union is deeply disturbed by how management has communicated this decision, attempting to portray it as a sudden and unavoidable crisis when the company has long been aware of the challenges facing the diamond industry.
NUM National Health and Safety Secretary and NUM Diamond Sector Chief Negotiator, Masibulele Naki, stated:
"Workers cannot be treated as disposable tools that are discarded whenever companies face economic pressures. De Beers has known about the challenges confronting the diamond market for a long time. It is therefore disingenuous to present this announcement as a sudden crisis. Workers and their trade union should have been engaged honestly and transparently long before a Section 189A notice was issued."
The NUM maintains that the company has a responsibility to exhaust all possible alternatives before contemplating retrenchments.
Naki added:
"The salaries of workers are not the cause of the current difficulties facing the company. Therefore, workers' wages, jobs, and livelihoods cannot become the first target whenever management seeks to reduce costs. Workers cannot compromise on salary cuts, nor can they be expected to carry the burden of protecting profits while executives continue to enjoy substantial benefits."
The union firmly rejects any attempt to make retrenchments a predetermined outcome of the consultation process. We remind the employer that Section 189A consultations are legally intended to seek alternatives to job losses, not merely to rubber-stamp decisions already taken.
The NUM demands that De Beers and DBSSSA urgently consider viable alternatives, including:
- Retraining and upskilling programmes
- Temporary job preservation measures
- A reduction in non-essential expenditure
- A comprehensive review of executive and management costs
"Retrenchments cannot become an easy escape route whenever companies face operational challenges. The company must find other means of reducing costs instead of targeting workers. Every alternative that can save jobs must be explored before a single worker is retrenched. The potential loss of 1,214 jobs across Venetia Mine and DBSSSA will have devastating consequences for workers, their families, and local communities," Naki emphasized.
The NUM calls on the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), the Department of Employment and Labour, organised labour, and all key stakeholders to intervene urgently to protect these 1,214 jobs.
The union will participate fully in the consultation process and will mobilise all available organisational, legal, and collective bargaining resources to defend our members.
"The livelihoods of more than 1,200 workers and thousands of dependants are at stake. NUM will not stand by while workers are sacrificed for corporate convenience. ThE NUM will not be shocked and surprised if this is a strategy by the company to replace permanent workers with contractors which is a strategy that is being used by mining companies around the world where they operate. We shall fight relentlessly to protect jobs and defend the dignity of mineworkers," concluded Naki.
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SACP message of heartfelt condolences on the death of South African international and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 11 July 2026
The South African Communist Party (SACP) conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to the family of South African international and Mamelodi Sundowns influential midfielder, Jayden Adams.
The SACP also sends its condolences to the entire national football squad, the South African Football Association, his teammates and leadership at Mamelodi Sundowns, his fans and the people of South Africa for the loss.
Jayden Adams, 25, represented the South African national football squad, Bafana Bafana, in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and also his club, Mamelodi Sundowns, towards winning their second CAF Champions League title in May. He had a bright future ahead of him, and his loss will be felt for a very long time.
In paying tribute to Adams, the SACP reiterates its call for the development of sports in our country, with particular attention to townships and rural areas.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
International-Solidarity
Transforming Education Summit +4: Building resilience starts with supporting teachers
14 July 2026
The Transforming Education Summit + 4 (TES+4) brings together leaders and partners to review progress since the 2022 UN Transforming Education Summit and to accelerate action towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on quality education
for all. Education International President Mugwena Maluleke is the voice of the teaching profession in these essential deliberations.
Convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres and the Director-General of UNESCO Khaled El Anany on the occasion of the meeting of the SDG 4 High-Level Steering Committee (HLSC), this event marks a key midpoint between the 2022 TES
and the 2030 deadline for SDG 4. The Summit focuses on system transformation and resilience at a time when education systems are under growing pressure from fiscal constraints, climate shocks, protracted crises, and rapid technological change, including advances
in artificial intelligence.
“When we are discussing resilience, teachers show us what this means every day. Through war and conflict, climate disasters, pandemics, displacement, and severe budget cuts, teachers continue to show up for their students”, Maluleke noted. In his intervention,
EI’s President also stressed that “resilience is built through strong systems supported by public investment that nurture trust, relationships, and teachers’ professional judgement”.
TES+4 spotlights key drivers of change, including the teaching profession, lifelong learning, and inclusive digital transformation. Equity, inclusion, and gender equality are central to all discussions while sustainable education financing will underpin implementation
and delivery.
Lasting educational reform is built on trust and partnership
Speaking on a TES +4 panel on priority actions to address the global teacher shortage, Maluleke highlighted the importance of social dialogue arguing that it is “simply the most effective way of addressing issues in education. It is also a powerful way to recognise
teachers, value our expertise, and harness our energy and commitment to effect the profound transformation we need”.
Maluleke presented several examples that showcase the power of education unions and governments working together.
In Indonesia, social dialogue unlocked major transformations with significant impact for millions of teachers and students. Using the UN High-Level Panel recommendations and the force of EI’s Go Public! Fund Education campaign, the Teachers' Association of
the Republic of Indonesia (PGRI) secured the promotion of over one million contract teachers to permanent stable positions. They also ensured that 580,000 teachers who lack certification participate in professional programmes to become certified. The union
is supporting educators with training for their certification exams.
In Norway, social dialogue enabled the government, the Union of Education Norway, and other stakeholders to codesign a unified strategy to tackle the teacher shortage. The strategy addresses teacher education programmes, the transition into the profession,
working conditions, and more.
In Mexico, social dialogue delivered a 10% salary raise and an additional week of vacation for the country’s education workforce.
“Let us learn from these examples. Let us listen to the evidence and fully fund public education, invest in teachers, and respect the profession at the heart of all education systems”, Maluleke concluded.
Building on a strong foundation
The first Transforming Education Summit was convened in 2022 in response to the worsening global teacher shortage. The Education International delegation made a strong case for urgent action to support the profession, stressing the imperative to invest in teachers,
engage in social and policy dialogue, encourage teacher leadership, and involve educators in the governance and deployment of technology in education.
EI advocacy was instrumental in the decision to convene a High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession which was announced during the Summit by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed. The Panel’s 59 recommendations are a direct outcome of
the Summit and provide the blueprint to end the global teacher shortage. EI and its member organisations are calling on governments to implement the recommendations as a priority.
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KMWU strike over subcontracted workers’ bargaining rights
14 July, 2026
On 15 July, the Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), which represents 180,000 members, will walk out in a general strike. The demand is that multinational
companies bargain in good faith with the subcontracted workers who keep their factories running.
The strike follows a landmark amendment to Korea’s Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act. For the first time. the Act allows subcontracted workers to bargain collectively with the principal employers who actually control their pay and conditions,
rather than only with the smaller subcontracting firms that formally employ them. Since the amendment came into force, KMWU has put forward collective bargaining proposals across the metal sector. But many multinational companies have simply refused to come
to the table, despite the change in the law.
For KMWU members, that refusal is the point of the strike. Subcontracted workers earn just 65.2 per cent of the wage of directly employed workers, according to a survey by Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour. And the gap is widening: wages for regular
workers grew 15.3 per cent, against only 6 per cent for non-regular workers. Union members say multinational companies are refusing to share the profits that subcontracted workers helped generate.
KMWU is striking for:
good faith bargaining from principal employers
revitalization of industry-wide bargaining, employment and human rights protections as AI is introduced into workplaces
a metal industry minimum wage of 2,608,040 won (US$1,716) per month
a flat base wage increase of 149,600 won (US$98) per month
“The international labour movement hears the voice of the Korean subcontracted workers,”
says Atle Høie, general secretary of IndustriALL Global Union.
“The right to collective bargaining is a fundamental right and has to be respected as such. We are committed to supporting our brothers and sisters in the fight for their collective bargaining rights and decent living wages. We will bring the struggle against
precarious work in Korea to the attention of worldwide workers.”
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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