Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 29 May 2026 #CosatuRedFridays
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
29 May 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- Minister Nomakhosazana Meth welcomes Constitutional Court dismissal of Part A of the Application of NEASA and Sakeliga
- South Africa
- NEHAWU wishes the SACP and other organisations of the working class a successful Conference of the Left
- National Treasury announces publication of Proceeds Framework and Second Party Opinion
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- The union-busting playbook: exposed
- STATEMENT | African Workers Sound the Alarm on Mission 300
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
Minister Nomakhosazana Meth welcomes Constitutional Court dismissal of Part A of the Application of NEASA and Sakeliga
28 May 2026
Minister Nomakhosazana Meth welcomes Constitutional Court judgement in the case between Neasa, Sakeliga & others against the Minister regarding the Employment Equity Regulations and 5-year sector EE targets
The Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms. Nomakhosazana Meth welcomes the Constitutional Court dismissal of Part A of the Application of NEASA and Sakeliga, which sought to interdict the implementation of the EE Regulations and the 5-year sector numerical EE targets. The judgement on Case No. CCT 86/26, was handed down on 22 May 2026.
In the absence of any court interdict, the Department is therefore forging ahead with the implementation of the EE Regulations and the 5-year sector numerical EE targets.
The Employment Equity Amendment Act, No. 4 of 2022, and its accompanying two sets of Employment Equity Regulations, including the 5-year sector numerical EE targets for the 18 economic sectors, came into effect on 1 January 2025, and 15 April 2025, respectively for designated employers (i.e. those that employ 50 and more employees).
It is important to note that the numerical goals are set by the designated employers and Companies must therefore submit their annual EE reports against their own set annual EE targets in their EE Plans.
After the commencement of the EE Amendment Act, 2022 and its EE Regulations, including the 5-year sector numerical EE targets, several legal challenges were instituted against the Minister of Employment and Labour; the Director-General of the Department of Employment and Labour (DG); and the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE). These cases primarily challenged the constitutional validity, lawfulness, consultation process, and the implementation of the amended EE legislative framework and the 5-year sectoral numerical EE targets.
NEASA and Sakeliga were amongst the first to file an urgent application with the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria and this case was heard on 15 August 2025. The applicants sought an
interim relief (Part A) to interdict or suspend the implementation of the 5-year sectoral numerical EE targets published on 15 April 2025, as well as certain provisions of the EE General Administrative Regulations. In Part B, they sought substantive relief declaring section 15A of the EE Amendment Act, 2022 and related provisions unconstitutional, including the reviewing and setting aside of the 5-year sectoral numerical EE targets and EE Regulations.
On 28 August 2025, the High Court dismissed Part A of the application. The Court accepted urgency, but held that an interdict was not appropriate where the Minister had already exercised statutory powers. The High Court declined to suspend what it regarded as a lawful exercise of statutory authority, emphasising the separation of powers. The Court further held that the consultation process preceding the publication of the sectoral numerical EE targets was lawful and that employers retain flexibility to justify deviations for non-compliance in terms of section 42(4) of the Employment Equity Act, 1998 (EEA). Each party was ordered to pay its own costs. Part B, which is the constitutional validity challenge, remains pending.
The Applicants (NEASA and Sakeliga) sought leave to appeal the dismissal of Part A of their application. The matter was heard on 16 October 2025. Relying on section 17 of the Superior Courts Act, the Court found that there were no compelling reasons why another Court would reach a different conclusion. It further held that it would be premature to grant leave to appeal before Part B is finalised. Leave to appeal was accordingly refused, with no order as to the costs.
The Applicants approached the Supreme Court of Appeal on 13 November 2025. On 13 March 2026, the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered that the application for leave to appeal is dismissed with costs on the grounds that there is no reasonable prospect of success in an appeal and there is no other compelling reason why an appeal should be heard.
After the Supreme Court of Appeal Order, NEASA and Sakeliga approached the Constitutional Court on an urgent basis to seek leave to appeal. On the 22nd May 2026, the Constitutional Court ruled that the application must be dismissed with cost, as no case is made out for urgency and the appeal against the application for an interim interdict bears no reasonable prospects of success. In concluding, the Court expressed no opinion on Part B of the Initial Application, which is still pending in the High Court. In Part B, the applicants seek a substantive relief declaring section 15A of the EE Amendment Act, 2022 and related provisions unconstitutional, including the reviewing and setting aside of the 5-year sectoral numerical EE targets and EE Regulations. The Department is also opposing Part B.
The key objectives and implications of the EE Amendment Act, 2022 are as follows:
To empower the Minister to regulate sector specific EE numerical targets in order to ensure the equitable representation of suitably qualified people from the designated groups, (Africans, Coloureds and Indians, women of all race groups, as well as people with disabilities irrespective of their race and gender);
To promulgate section 53 of the EEA for the issuing of the EE Compliance Certificate as a prerequisite for access to state contracts and doing business with any organ of state and;
To lessen the administrative requirements on small business employers who have between 1 and 49 employees, to enable them to focus on growing their business and create jobs. These employers will no longer have to comply with Chapter three of the EE Act in relation to the submission of EE reports and plans.
All the designated employers are legally obligated to fully comply with the Employment Equity amendments by aligning their annual EE targets in the EE Plans, with the 5-year sector numerical EE targets.
“We welcome the judgement handed down by the Constitutional Court. The Employment Equity amendments aim to promote and protect the right of equality and the exercise of true democracy for under-represented groups. On behalf of the Department, and the Commission for Employment Equity, we are vindicated on our position that there is nothing sinister about the Employment Equity amendments and the 5-year sector numerical EE targets,” says Minister Meth.
Media
enquiries:
Ms. Thobeka Magcai, Ministry Spokesperson.
Email: Thobeka...@Labour.gov.za
Cell: 072 737 2205.
Issued by Department of Employment and Labour
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
NEHAWU wishes the SACP and other organisations of the working class a successful Conference of the Left
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, May 29, 2026
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] wishes, the South African Communist Party [SACP] and other organisations of the working class a successful Conference of the Left convened from the 29th – 31st May 2026 at Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni.
The Conference of the Left is convened under the theme “Building a Left Movement for Working-Class and Popular Power”. Indeed, the conference’s theme succinctly captures correctly the imperative task of the moment for the socialist axis that of creating and building a powerful left movement for our class and popular power.
The Conference of the Left is convened to amongst others; unite the forces of the left in constructing and crystallising a shared campaign-based programme that advances the objectives of the total liberation of the oppressed, the emancipation of the working class, ending patriarchy, the transformation of our society and the reversal of neoliberal policies that have blocked national progress.
Furthermore, the conference seeks to develop a concrete campaign framework shared by organisations of the left, with the objective of deepening the unity of the working class, revitalising its activism and articulating a unifying medium-term agenda based on the objective demands of the working class.
The conference is convened at a time when the systematic crises of capitalism have obliterated the working class throughout the world, subjecting the class to extreme levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality. Indeed, capitalism has demonstrated its inability to resolve its inherent contradictions, the system remains trapped in a prolonged structural crisis characterised by low growth, rising unemployment, deepening inequality, and worsening living conditions for the working class.
Indeed, the conference of the left should be understood as an opportunity to unite the working class in South Africa against the imperialism aggression and capitalist agenda. It is against this background that the socialist axis should not tire nor give up, rather contest the space for influence and guidance as part of building the powerful left movement for working class and popular power. The socialist axis needs to work more closely and develop common perspectives towards the strategic objectives of building a socialist movement in South Africa.
As NEHAWU, we expect a conference that will be characterised by rich deliberations uniting progressive socialist axis forces in general and the working class in particular around the strategic objectives of the conference. This conference should be a turning point in clarifying in content the successful prosecution of the socialist struggle in South Africa and the World. As such, the conference must have an overarching understanding on the basis the National Democratic Revolution, building fronts and the left axis for socialism.
Indeed, among the key tasks of the conference should be providing a concrete and thorough analysis of the main characteristics of the working class in South Africa, historic mission of the left forces and grappling with the question of the building a powerful socialist movement.
Equally, of importance is the task of developing strategic priorities and campaigns focused on the short to medium-term, and this include amongst others; strategic campaigns and priorities on the cost of living, land, food and rural struggle, employment and industrial strategy, public services and local government, and climate and just transition amongst others.
Lastly, the current phase of the struggle requires the consolidation, deepening and advancement of our National Democratic Revolution, and as such, the socialist axis and progressive forces must organisationally position themselves to match the monumental strategic task of advancing the struggle for socialism in the current conjuncture.
NEHAWU wishes the SACP and other organisations of the working class a successful Conference of the Left.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
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National Treasury announces publication of Proceeds Framework and Second Party Opinion
29 May 2026
Publication
of the South African Government use of Proceeds Framework and Second Party Opinion
National Treasury announces the publication of its Sovereign Use of Proceeds Framework, together with the accompanying Second Party Opinion. Developed with the support of Rand Merchant Bank and J.P. Morgan, together with their empowerment partners Theza Capital
and Capital Link, the Framework establishes the basis for the potential issuance of thematic sovereign funding instruments, including green bonds. It defines eligible categories, governance arrangements, and reporting principles for use-of-proceeds instruments
aligning with international sustainable finance principles.
Any issuance under the Framework remains subject to internal readiness processes, including confirmation of a robust pipeline of eligible expenditures, operational reporting systems, and the establishment of appropriate governance structures.
Subject to these conditions, National Treasury may consider issuing ZAR- and USD-denominated instruments in line with its broader funding strategy, market conditions, and investor demand. National Treasury also intends to expand the Framework to accommodate sustainability-linked financing, providing flexibility to access both project-based and target-linked instruments over time.
The publication of the Framework underscores the National Treasury’s commitment to developing South Africa’s sustainable finance market and mobilising capital towards economic growth and climate resilience.
The Use of Proceeds Framework and the accompanying Second-Party Opinion are available on the National Treasury’s Investor Relations website:
https://investor.treasury.gov.za/Publications/Sustainable%20Finance%20F…
For further enquiries, contact:
National
Treasury - Funding team
Email: DebtIssuance...@treasury.gov.za
RMB
- Sustainability & ESG Advisors
Email:DLRMBProj...@rmb.co.za
JP
Morgan - Sustainability & ESG Advisors
IMVEL...@jpmorgan.com
Issued by National Treasury
International-Solidarity
The union-busting playbook: exposed
28 May, 2026
There is an industry whose sole purpose is to stop workers organizing. It is well-funded, professionally organized and operating on every continent. It is often called union avoidance and is a set of tactics refined over decades. Whatever it is called it is in fact a deliberate assault on a fundamental human right.
The scale of the industry is staggering. A recent article in The Guardian quoted a 2026 report by the Economic Policy Institute which found that US employers spend more than US$1.5bn a year on union opposition efforts. This includes US$442m annually on specialist union-avoidance consultants alone. Amazon spent US$26.6m on such consultants in 2025. A previous EPI report found that US employers are charged with violating labour law in 41.5 per cent of all union elections. Union density in the US has fallen from 20.3 per cent in 1983 to ten per cent today. The union-busting industry bears significant responsibility for that decline. As one of the report’s authors put it, this is millions or even billions of dollars that is not going towards workers or investing in their workplace.
The tactics and why they are wrong
Anti-union campaigns follow a recognizable pattern of tactics designed to suppress workers’ free choice through fear, misinformation and pressure.
Mandatory captive-audience meetings. Employers force workers to attend meetings during working hours where management delivers one-sided anti-union messaging. Workers cannot leave and there is no right of reply. At Mercedes-Benz in Alabama, this was one of the tactics so egregious that IndustriALL withdrew from its global framework agreement with the company. In the agreement Mercedes-Benz had explicitly committed to neutrality.
Scripted one-on-one pressure. Supervisors, coached by outside consultants, are deployed to have individual conversations with workers. The message is always the same: a union will put your job at risk, damage your relationship with management, threaten investment.
Paid consultants and surveillance. Specialist firms are brought onto company premises. Workers often do not know who these people are or who is paying them. Increasingly, digital surveillance is deployed alongside them: monitoring social media, flagging workers who discuss union matters and infiltrating online groups to track organizing activity.
Dismissal of union activists. Firing workers for union activity is one of the most powerful weapons in the playbook. It sends a clear message to every other worker watching. At the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama, a 25-year employee with a spotless record was disciplined for telling colleagues he had union cards. The leading organizer, Jeremy Kimbrell, who had worked at the plant for 26 years, was fired in February 2025 on what the UAW describes as a fabricated pretext.
Law firms as instruments of union avoidance. The law firms and consultants at the heart of this industry openly advertise their services. Their own promotional materials describe “defeating a union” as “gratifying,” promise to help employers maintain “union-free workplaces” and offer to get workers “to vote non-union.” Several have documented records of unlawful conduct in previous campaigns. These are findings by federal labour judges that were publicly available before the companies that hired them signed the contracts.
A global problem in our sectors
Union busting is not isolated to the US. IndustriALL affiliates around the world encounter it.
Türkiye is one of the worst environments in the world for union organizing. Unions document dismissals, threats and employer interference across manufacturing and garment sectors. Workers at Digel Textile joined the garment workers union TEKSIF after it was confirmed as the legitimate collective bargaining agent. The company responded by dismissing four leading union members and threatening workers with factory closure if they did not resign. Metal-workers’ union Birleşik Metal-İş was certified as the official bargaining agent at SAG Hidrolik. The company dismissed three union members without cause and threatened workers that the factory would close if they stayed in the union.
In Germany, Adidas left the sectoral collective bargaining agreement by downgrading its industry membership to avoid collective bargaining obligations — a decision whose repercussions extend across its global supply chains.
In Malaysia, IndustriALL filed a formal ILO complaint in March documenting union busting across twelve companies in the electronics, semiconductor, aerospace, automotive and paper sectors. Workers at Nexperia voted for their union with nearly 96 per cent support. At Boeing Composites Malaysia, 85 per cent voted in favour. Yet winning the ballot was not the end of the struggle. Companies dismissed workers and threatened migrant workers with deportation. Companies weaponized the courts, filing challenge after challenge to delay union recognition by years, in one case more than a decade.
Workers have the right to know
ILO Conventions 87 and 98 enshrine the right to organize and bargain collectively. IndustriALL embeds it in the global framework agreements it negotiates with multinationals. Those companies have committed, in writing, to uphold it everywhere they operate.
Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:
“Union busting violates those commitments. When a company signs a global framework agreement promising neutrality and then deploys tactics designed to defeat union campaigns, it is not navigating a legal grey area. It is breaking its word and undermining a fundamental human right. Freedom of association is not optional and it is not a local exception.”
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STATEMENT | African Workers Sound the Alarm on Mission 300
29 May 2026
At the sidelines of the 2026 African Development Bank Annual Meeting in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, ITUC-Africa, Public Services International (PSI), and IndustriAll Global Union have issued a joint statement challenging the AfDB's Mission 300 initiative.
What is Mission 300?
Launched in April 2024, Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, backed by $48 billion in concessional financing from the World Bank Group and the AfDB.
Why are African workers concerned?
Mission 300 mirrors the AfDB's failed "New Deal on Energy for Africa" — a decade-old initiative that promised 100% urban and 95% rural electricity access by 2025. Today, roughly 600 million sub-Saharan Africans remain without electricity.
Like its predecessor, Mission 300 relies on attracting private investment rather than strengthening public utilities — at a time when the World Bank itself acknowledges the financing gap stands at $35–$50 billion per year.
What do African workers demand?
We call for a Reclaim & Restore (R&R) approach that:
Rebuilds
and adequately funds public utilities
Rejects
"full cost recovery" policies that financially cripple utilities
Redirects
financing from private Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to public utilities with a clear electrification mandate
Calls
on African governments to repeal privatisation laws imposed during structural adjustment in the 1980s–90s
Ensuring the wellbeing of 600 million Africans without electricity is our priority — and it requires a fundamentally different set of policies.
Read
the full statement: [www.ituc-africa.org]
______________________________
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