Taking COSATU Today Forward, 10 February 2025
Norman Mampane
|
COSATU TODAY #Cosatu holds Provincial Gender Conferences/Provincial Congress from this week #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #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
10 February 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
Organize at every workplace and demand respect for labour rights Now!
Defend Jobs Now!
Join COSATU NOW!
Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SAMWU Condemns DA’s Hypocrisy Over Resignations in Tshwane: A Legacy of Double Standards Exposed
- NUM is deeply worried about the decision taken by Petra Diamonds to retrench over 200 mineworkers
- DENOSA KZN Statement
- South African Communist Party Memorandum to ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA)
- South Africa
- COSATU applauds Justice Minister Kubayi's call for the Sexual Offenders' Register to be made publicly available
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- COSATU mourns the passing of the Founding Father of Namibia, Sam Nujoma
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SAMWU Condemns DA’s Hypocrisy Over Resignations in Tshwane: A Legacy of Double Standards Exposed
Donald Monakisi, SAMWU Tshwane Regional Secretary, 10 February 2025
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in the Tshwane region notes with concern the DA Tshwane Caucus’ theatrical protest over the resignation of Governance and Support Officer (GSO) Ashraf Adam.
Their feigned outrage over officials being “forced out” is nothing more than a thinly veiled distraction from the real issue—Adam’s deliberate failure to disclose critical information that should have disqualified him from employment in the first place.
Rather than confronting the ethical breaches that marred his appointment, the DA has chosen to fabricate a narrative of political victimisation, a desperate ploy to divert attention from their own failings.
For years, the DA has masqueraded as the paragon of clean governance while quietly entrenching its own system of cadre deployment. They have consistently prioritised political loyalty over merit, appointing individuals who serve their agenda rather than the public good. Yet, when one of their own is held accountable, they cry foul, attempting to rewrite the narrative to evade responsibility. The DA cannot claim to uphold the principles of good governance while shielding compromised figures within their ranks. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Let us be unequivocal: Adam was not pushed out—he chose to resign. Had he been innocent, had he truly believed in his own integrity, he would have stayed to face due process and clear his name. Instead, he fled, knowing full well that further scrutiny would expose his misconduct. His resignation is not an act of principle; it is a tacit admission of guilt.
The DA’s sudden indignation over political interference is nothing short of laughable, given their own history of questionable appointments in Tshwane. Under Solly Msimanga’s leadership, the DA engaged in the very practices they now condemn:
· Stefan de Villiers, a former bodybuilder and DA loyalist, was handed a senior executive role in the mayor’s office despite glaring deficiencies in qualifications and experience. His appointment was a blatant act of political patronage, devoid of merit.
· Marietha Aucamp, Msimanga’s Chief of Staff, was awarded a senior position with an annual salary of R1.2 million, despite lacking the requisite qualifications. The DA-led administration not only bypassed legal procedures but actively concealed the irregularities. When exposed, Msimanga feigned ignorance, despite evidence proving his involvement in the hiring process.
The DA’s hypocrisy is staggering. They have long used political appointments to shield their interests while preaching accountability. Now, they expect the public to believe they are victims of political persecution, when in reality, they are finally being held to account for their own misdeeds.
Adam’s resignation is not merely the result of his failure to disclose critical information; it is also a reflection of his troubling track record. Multiple allegations of workplace bullying and abuse of power have followed him. Under his leadership, employees endured a toxic environment of fear and intimidation. In one egregious incident, his reckless conduct during a management meeting caused a female employee to collapse in front of her colleagues. Yet, the DA, which claims to champion ethical leadership, has conveniently ignored these allegations, choosing instead to defend Adam’s supposed innocence.
If Adam were the competent and ethical professional the DA claims, he would have fought to clear his name through legal channels. Instead, he chose to resign abruptly, a clear indication that he could not withstand the scrutiny of due process. The DA’s attempts to portray him as a victim are as disingenuous as they are desperate.
SAMWU will never stand by as senior officials, regardless of their political affiliations, abuse their power, violate ethical standards, and mistreat workers. The employees of Tshwane deserve leaders who act with integrity, not those who exploit their positions for personal gain and evade accountability.
We say good riddance to individuals like Adam, who believe they can act with impunity. SAMWU will continue to hold accountable those who abuse their power, whether they are shielded by the DA, the ANC, or any other political entity. The workers of Tshwane are not pawns in political games, and SAMWU will remain at the forefront of the fight for fairness, justice, and transparency.
Issued by SAMWU Tshwane Region
_____________________
NUM is deeply worried about the decision taken by Petra Diamonds to retrench over 200 mineworkers
Masibulele Naki, NUM Health and Safety Secretary, 09 February 2025
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) strongly rejects the purported retrenchments of about 200 workers at Petra Diamond. This decision is unacceptable as it will have devastating consequences for the affected employees, their families, the broader community, and the economy.
Petra Diamonds has issued Sections 189 at two of its operations at Cullinan, East of Pretoria and Finsch in the Northern Cape to retrench 200 employees from both operations. The company pointed out that the diamond industry is facing the longest downturn in over 30 years, driven by global economic factors such as the slowdown demand in China and the rise of lab-grown diamonds as reasons for its situation and decision.
The NUM is worried about these impending retrenchments at both Cullinan and Finsch mines. The NUM has observed with serious concern that the majority of mining companies that are retrenching workers around the country are replacing them with contract workers.
This is capitalist barbarism at its best.
To retrench any workers above a hundred in a country where the unemployment rate is at 40% in 2025 is unpatriotic and simply a manifestation of the brutality of national and international business to prioritise profits above nationhood.
"For our economy to reach projected annual economic growth it needs not guzzle work opportunities but create more jobs to induce economic growth. While we note the potential adverse impact of the global diamond market currently it is not justifiable to destroy jobs to preserve super profits for avaricious shareholders and self-centred super-rich oligarchy," Masibulele Naki, NUM Diamond Sector Chief Negotiator.
"We note that for operations to be sustainable, they must align with their vision. However, cutting costs as a consequence does not have to lead to job cuts but to an alignment in how much the executives and shareholders take home," Naki added.
We further denounce any imperialists venture that sacrifices workers livelihood such as the undermining of the Kimberly Process. This deliberate G7 sabotage of the legitimate national development. Therefore, we condemn attempts to make Belgium a single node of diamonds entering the G7 countries
The NUM is also calling for the government and the Diamond Leadership Forum at the Minerals Council of South Africa to convene an urgent session to discuss the future of the diamond industry in South Africa.
The session must also include the labour unions. If this is not done the possibility of all diamond mining companies in SA closing down looms large and must be prevented to mitigate jobs bloodbath and unemployment carnage in the sector.
__________________
DENOSA KZN Statement
Andile Mbeje, DENOSA KZN Provincial Secretary, 7th February 2025
DURBAN - The Democratic Nursing Organization of South Africa (DENOSA), in KwaZulu-Natal is extremely shocked and saddened by the disturbing news of another nurse whose life was brutally and mercilessly ended by the hands of unthankful elements of our society.
As the developments unfold, the facts are such that this horrible incident happened during a car hijack situation where this nurse was murdered, and his body was subsequently dumped in a nearby dam.
The deceased nurse was an employee of Oliver's hoek clinic under Emmaus Hospital in Bergville - Ukhahlamba Region.
His lifeless body was discovered by community members on Wednesday morning who later alerted the police.
These attacks on our colleagues are fast becoming a pandemic. Just during the last 2 years , we had to lay to rest a number of our colleagues who were murdered in the line of duty.
As an organization representing thousands of nurses in this province, this scourge cannot be allowed to continue unchallenged. Our colleagues are always on the receiving end of ill-informed blame for the failures of the ailing SA health system.
How many more nurses must die before someone can boldly stand up and declare that these senseless killings have gone too far?
Employers and all other powers that be, have no choice, but to take decisive action to end this scourge of senseless killing of our nurses. Why must nurses live in fear of being raped, mugged and murdered?
Another appeal is hereby made to local chiefs, community leaders, citizens and law enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned in finding the murderers and bring them to book.
Nurses are not devils as wrongly perceived by many, therefore they deserve to be protected and loved like everyone else.
We demand unwavering justice to the bereaved family.
END
Zanele Gumede - Provincial Chairperson - 071 640 8887
Andile Mbeje - Provincial Secretary - 072 553 1636
DENOSA KZN Communication & Publicity
_____________________
South African Communist Party MEMORANDUM TO ARCELORMITTAL SOUTH AFRICA (AMSA)
TO: The Chief Executive Officer, ArcelorMittal South Africa
FROM: The South African Communist Party (SACP)
Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo, SACP Central Committee Member, National Spokesperson & Political Bureau Secretary for Policy and Research, 7 February 2025
SUBJECT: Immediate reversal of plant closures, and demand to restart Saldanha Steel Mill Production
1. Introduction
The South African Communist Party (SACP) submits this memorandum to demand an immediate reversal of ArcelorMittal South Africa’s (AMSA) decision to close domestic steel manufacturing plants, including the Newcastle Works, Vereeniging Works and the eMalahleni rail-fabrication plant. In addition, the SACP calls for the urgent restart of production at the Saldanha Steel Mill. If AMSA is unwilling or unable to sustain operations, we demand that these facilities be handed over to the state for alternative ownership and operation to ensure continued production in the national interest.
2. Background and Context
AMSA, formerly the state-owned Iscor, was privatised starting in 1989 under the apartheid regime and fully privatised in the early 2000s. This privatisation has proven to be a failure, leading to significant de-industrialisation and foreign control over strategic industrial assets.
AMSA’s decision to mothball and close facilities threatens over 3,500 direct jobs and an estimated 25,000 to 100,000 livelihoods within the value chain, including in metal and engineering industries and the automotive component manufacturing sector. These reckless profit-driven decisions undermine South Africa’s industrial base, perpetuate unemployment and betray the working class and the nation.
3. Key concerns
3.1 Economic and social impacts
The closure of these facilities will badly affect workers, their families and communities, further deepening South Africa’s unemployment crisis, with over 12 million individuals already unemployed or discouraged work seekers.
Enterprises dependent on AMSA’s steel products, including automotive component manufacturers and the metal and engineering industries, risk closure, short-time work and layoffs, or reduced production.
The decision perpetuates manufacturing de-industrialisation, undermining domestic value addition and beneficiation of mineral resources.
3.2 Privatisation failures
The privatisation of Iscor failed to deliver on promises of increased investment and technology transfer and continued production, all under the profit-driven yoke of the foreign-controlled AMSA. Instead, it led to asset sweating and facility closures.
The shutdown of Saldanha Steel in 2020, with over 1,500 retrenchments, remains a stark example of the privatisation failure, and so will the closure of the Newcastle and Vereeniging steel manufacturing plants and the eMalahleni rail fabrication plant.
3.3 Anti-developmental practices
AMSA’s use of import parity pricing has made its domestic steel products unaffordable, further undermining local industries, abusing dominance and monopoly.
While export tariffs on scrap metals and the Preferential Price System have supported local foundries and employment, AMSA has resisted these vital industrial policy measures. Your company must stop the unreasonable demand.
3.4 Environmental sustainability
AMSA’s failure to invest in low-carbon production technologies undermines the sustainable future of South Africa’s steel industry.
4. Demands
4.1 Immediate reversal of plant closures
AMSA must immediately reverse its decision to mothball and close the Newcastle Works, Vereeniging Works and the eMalahleni rail-fabrication plant with immediate effect.
4.2 Restart production at Saldanha Steel Mill
AMSA must restart production at the Saldanha Steel Mill to revitalise domestic steel manufacturing and create employment opportunities, or it must hand over this facility to the state for alternative ownership and operation. The shutdown of this facility in 2020 was a grave error that must be corrected.
4.3 Transfer of ownership to the state
If AMSA is unwilling or unable to sustain operations, it must transfer ownership of the affected facilities to the state. This “reverse privatisation” would ensure their continued operation in the national interest and align with the state’s industrialisation strategy.
4.4 Support for industrial policy measures
AMSA must actively support industrial policy instruments such as export tariffs on scrap metals and the Preferential Price System, which are critical for sustaining local steel manufacturing and it must forget about and never return to the parasitic, exploitation practice of import parity pricing on domestically produced products.
Invest in mini mills using electric arc technology to produce affordable steel with a lower carbon footprint.
4.5 Environmental responsibility
AMSA must embrace investment in low-carbon steel production technologies to secure a sustainable future for the industry and it must rehabilitate all the areas destroyed by its environmental degradation in the Vaal region and everywhere else it has done this in the country.
5. Call to Action
The SACP urges AMSA to act responsibly by prioritising the livelihoods of South Africans, the preservation of the country’s industrial base and the sustainability of the domestic steel industry. Should AMSA fail to reverse its decisions, the SACP will mobilise its structures, workers and communities in Newcastle, Vereeniging, eMalahleni, and beyond to take militant action to protect these vital facilities and the national interest, including through RE-NATIONALISATION.
6. Conclusion
The SACP calls on AMSA to urgently reverse its plant closure decisions, restart the Saldanha Steel Mill, or engage with the state to transfer ownership of the affected facilities.
The SACP will continue to monitor this situation and engage all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the interests of the working class and the nation are upheld.
We demand a response within three consecutive days given the urgency of this matter.
Issued by the South African Communist Party,
Founded in 1921 as the Communist Party of South Africa.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
COSATU applauds Justice Minister Kubayi's call for the Sexual Offenders' Register to be made publicly available
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 09 February 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) applauds the Minister for Justice, Ms. Mmamoloko Kubayi’s progressive call for the Sexual Offenders’ Register to be made publicly available. This is a long overdue intervention that the Federation has called for over many years.
We urge the Department of Justice and the Office of the Information Regulator to expedite the Minister’s call and put this into action as a matter of the utmost priority.
The 2021 amendments to the Sexual Offences and Criminal Matters Acts substantially tightened the requirements for the Sexual Offenders’ Register to be expanded to include all sexual offenders and for such repugnant predators to be prohibited from employment in positions where they will be in close proximity to or have authority over children, persons with disabilities, women or the elderly.
Gender-based violence has become an entrenched pandemic across South Africa, particularly in working class communities, on public transport, at institutions of learning and workplaces. It has inflicted incalculable harm; physically, emotionally and psychologically upon countless women, children and other vulnerable persons.
If we want our progressive laws seeking to tackle this cancer of shame, then we must ensure the Register is readily accessible to communities and the public at large. Rapists and other sexual offenders who choose to prey on the vulnerable, have forfeited their right to privacy.
We will not win this war until we ensure the state and society are fully empowered to deal with such criminals.
COSATU fully supports the Minister’s call and places its weight behind her to ensure it happens.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
COSATU mourns the passing of the Founding Father of Namibia, Sam Nujoma
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 09 February 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) joins the people of Namibia and the continent in mourning the passing of Namibia’s founding President Sam Nujoma.
Nujoma died on Saturday aged 95, after a three-week stay in hospital. Born Samuel Shafishuna (lightning) Daniel Nujoma on 12 May 1929 at Etunda in northern Namibia, he became Namibia’s first president after the country attained independence in 1990. The first of 11 children, he spent his childhood tending to his siblings, herding cattle and cultivating the land, in what was then South West Africa (Namibia), a German colony administered by apartheid South Africa.
A Finnish Missionary school in Okahao provided Nujoma’s primary education. At age 17 he became a contract worker in Walvis Bay, before joining the South African Railways as a cleaner in 1949 in Windhoek. It was at this point that he became politically active in the organised contract labour movement.
In 1959 Nujoma co-founded the Ovamboland People’s Organisation, spelling a new wave of resistance against colonial rule. Forced removal protests around this time saw police kill 11 protesters and seriously injure 44. This marked a turning point in the resistance with political activists facing increasing repression, Nujoma left the country for exile the next year to campaign internationally. In April of the same year the Ovamboland People’s Organisation became the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) with Nujoma as its first President – an office he held until 2007.
In 1967, SWAPO took up arms in its struggle against South Africa’s occupation. The war raged on for more than 20 years; thousands of lives were lost.
During his first term in office as head of state (1990 to 1995), much like South Africa’s Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Nujoma focused on reconciliation and nation building. He accepted the constitutional status quo that kept the white minority privileges intact while social inequities persisted.
Nujoma was President for three terms after the National Assembly exclusively amended the constitution so he could serve a third term (2000-2005). The clause was restricted to him. He retired from the SWAPO presidency in 2007. The National Assembly bestowed on him the title, Founding Father of the Namibian Nation, while SWAPO dubbed him Leader of the Namibian Revolution. A much-loved figure, his legacy will live on.
This is a painful loss not only to our sister liberation movement, SWAPO, but the entire Namibian nation. COSATU and the Tripartite Alliance with the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party shared the trenches with SWAPO in the fight against the apartheid regime, colonialism and the liberation of the Southern African region.
These bonds were forged together in Robben Island where the likes of Andimba Toivo Ja Toivo (co-founder of SWAPO) shared cells with Madiba to exile where both SWAPO and the ANC-led Alliance had their headquarters in Lusaka, Zambia, to the military training academies and universities across the then Soviet Union, and most critically to the battlefields of Angola where the joint forces of Angola with the SWAPO and the ANC’s military wings; the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia and Umkhonto we Sizwe respectively, with the heroic support of the Cuban Armed Forces defeated the apartheid regime.
We owe it to the gallant sacrifices of the Namibian people led by President Nujoma, to deepen and strengthen the bonds between our two peoples at all levels.
COSATU sends its sincerest condolences to his wife Katjimune Nujoma, his children, SWAPO, the National Union of Namibian Workers and the wider Namibian nation. Your loss is our loss.
Lala kahle Qhawe!
Issued by COSATU
______________________________
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