Taking COSATU Today Forward, 23 September 2025
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Cosatu40Anniversary loading…. #Cosatu@40 #WorkerControl #SACTU70 #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
23 September 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- Higher Education and Training on call for nominations to Community Education and Training College Councils
- South Africa
- Minister Dion George on waste and renewable energy reforms turning policy into jobs and investment
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Enzo Friso (1927-2025): A lifelong advocate for workers’ rights
- Mining unions forge global networks to strengthen worker protections
- WFTU Solidarity Statement with Starbucks Workers
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
Higher Education and Training on call for nominations to Community Education and Training College Councils
19 Sep 2025
The Department of Higher Education and Training has published in the Government Gazette the call for nominations to fill vacancies on Community Education and Training (CET) College Councils across the country. This represents an important step in strengthening the governance, accountability, and renewal of our CET colleges.
CET colleges are the bridge of hope for thousands of South Africans, especially out- of-school youth, adult learners, and communities seeking literacy, second-chance opportunities, and pathways to skills. They form part of the backbone of the Post- School Education and Training (PSET) system, and their councils must be credible, competent, and reflective of the aspirations of the people they serve.
Through this call, we are inviting South Africans with experience in governance, community development, education and training, industry, labour, and civic organisations to step forward. We are looking for individuals who can provide strategic guidance, ensure financial oversight, and help link CET colleges to the economic and social development strategies of their districts and municipalities.
This effort is part of the broader CET renewal strategy of aligning colleges with the District Development Model, strengthening teaching and learning, expanding access to literacy and skills, and making CET colleges central to local development.
We encourage communities, organisations, and individuals across the country to seize this opportunity. Governance in CET colleges is not only about oversight — it is about being custodians of hope, ensuring that these institutions respond to the real needs of young people, women, workers, and communities who are determined to learn, upskill, and thrive.
“As we work towards the opening of the 2026 academic year, we remain committed to supporting CET councils once appointed, ensuring that their role contributes to a stable, well-functioning, and transformative sector. Together, let us pick up the spear of renewal in CET, so that learning opportunities reach every district, every township, and every village,” said Minister Buti Manamela.
The deadline and submission process for nominations is outlined in the Government Gazette, and we urge all stakeholders to participate actively.
Enquiries:
Matshepo Seedat, Spokesperson for the Minister of Higher Education and Training
Cell: 082 679 9473
Issued by Department of Higher Education and Training
Minister Dion George on waste and renewable energy reforms turning policy into jobs and investment
22 Sep 2025
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has emphasised that South Africa’s waste and renewable energy reforms are turning environmental policy into a source of jobs and investment.
“What many people call waste, we see as wealth. By managing waste and energy wisely, we can create thousands of jobs, attract billions in investment, and build a resilient economy,” Minister George said.
He noted that in 2024/25, the Department processed 324 of 326 environmental impact assessments within the legal timeframe, achieving 99 percent efficiency. Energy projects, prioritised to respond to the national crisis, were finalised within 57 days on average.
The Department’s Solar and Battery Energy Storage System Exclusion Norms have allowed dozens of renewable projects in low to medium sensitivity areas to proceed quickly, adding power to the grid and creating work in construction and maintenance.
Waste management reforms have been equally impactful. The Extended Producer Responsibility regulations have created more than 24 000 jobs since 2022 and supported 47 000 waste pickers. Programmes like the Recycling Enterprise Support Programme and e-waste projects are fostering new enterprises in communities such as Bushbuckridge.
The Waste Management Bureau is addressing long-standing market failures by improving pricing, logistics, and enforcement. A blended-finance Waste Infrastructure Fund is being developed to support waste-to-value projects that turn disposal into profit.
“Waste and renewable energy are no longer burdens. They are the raw materials of a new economy. Every recycling enterprise and every solar farm is a step towards inclusive prosperity,” the Minister said.
He stressed that reforms supported by the Treasury and World Bank will mobilise more than R100 billion for water, energy, sanitation, and waste infrastructure. With DFFE’s guidance, these investments are embedding environmental stewardship into the country’s growth model.
“When we convert waste into value and speed up renewable projects, we are proving that sustainability creates wealth. This is how we turn today’s problems into tomorrow’s opportunities,” Minister George concluded.
Enquiries:
Thobile Zulu-Molobi
Cell: 082 513 7154
E-mail: tmo...@dffe.gov.za
Chelsey
Wilken
Cell: 074 470 5996
E-mail: cwi...@dffe.gov.za
Issued by Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment
International-Solidarity
Enzo Friso (1927-2025): A lifelong advocate for workers’ rights
22 September 2025
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) is deeply saddened by the passing of Enzo Friso, a lifelong trade unionist and former General Secretary of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).
Enzo Friso was a man of unwavering principles and a tireless advocate for workers’ rights and social justice throughout his life.
Born in Padua, Italy, in 1927, Enzo Friso began his working life as a metalworker before joining the Confederazione Italiana Sindacati dei Lavoratori (CISL) in 1945.
His international career began in the early 1960s when he represented CISL at the 1962 ICFTU Congress. He soon joined the ICFTU in key roles in its regional offices before moving to the headquarters in Brussels in 1970 to lead the confederation’s work on Latin America. He was then elected Assistant General Secretary in 1984, and later General Secretary in 1992, before retiring in 1994.
"During a period of intense global change, Enzo Friso strengthened the ICFTU’s internal structures to ensure broader representation of affiliates from all world regions. His leadership helped shape the direction of the international trade union movement for years to come." ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle
“He was a committed internationalist and a dedicated trade unionist. His lifelong contribution to workers’ rights and to the global trade union movement continues to inspire us. He believed deeply in international solidarity, and he led by example. We honour his legacy and extend our deepest condolences to his loved ones.”
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Mining unions forge global networks to strengthen worker protections
19 September, 2025
In a bid to strengthen collective bargaining and safeguard workers’ rights, trade union affiliates of IndustriALL Global Union from Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Liberia, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe convened in Dar es Salaam 10-12 September. The workshop focused on revitalizing trade union networks within multinational mining corporations (MNCs), including Glencore, Barrick Gold, AngloGold Ashanti and Valterra Platinum (formerly under Anglo American).
The workshop underscored the need for MNC trade union networks to adopt unified objectives, structured plans and
enhanced communication strategies, leveraging social media and artificial intelligence tools to amplify organizing efforts. Key priorities included upholding freedom of association, collective bargaining, occupational health and safety, and living wages, while
embedding human rights due diligence frameworks. The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) was cited as a benchmark for responsible mining practices.
A particular emphasis was placed on gender equity, with unions advocating for measures to combat gender-based violence and harassment faced by women miners. Proposals included ensuring access to sanitary products and fostering greater female participation to
dismantle discriminatory practices.
Environmental accountability also featured prominently, with delegates citing the Kafue River pollution incident in Zambia where acidic, heavy metal-laden waste from a burst tailing at Sino-Metals Leach’s copper mine contaminated a vital water source for millions
as a stark reminder of the need for strict governmental oversight and adherence to global environmental standards.
Theodore Kamwimbi, a researcher from the University of Western Cape, presented findings from IndustriALL report, Mapping Multinational Corporations in Mining in Sub-Saharan Africa. His recommendations included extending union networks to smaller mining firms,
expanding collective bargaining to contract workers, and addressing wage disparities, particularly in the DRC, where expatriate workers often earn more than locals. Kamwimbi also called for action against child labour in artisanal and small-scale mining, alongside
efforts to document and support women miners in adapting to technological advancements and automation.
Christian Denzin, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Tanzania resident director described the workshop as a critical platform for regional unions to exchange strategies and promote sustainable practices within multinational frameworks.
Drawing on successful precedents like the ArcelorMittal, TK Elevator, and Inditex networks, Patrick Correa, IndustriALL director for mechanical engineering and base metals, emphasized the importance of engaging MNC management to ensure the sustainability of
global networks. He pointed to ArcelorMittal’s global health and safety agreement as a model for collaboration.
Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining and diamonds, stressed the necessity of international solidarity to counter the influence of well-resourced global mining corporations:
“Unions must mobilize workers and leverage MNC networks to defend rights effectively,”
citing campaigns by the Anglo-American and Glencore networks as examples of impactful engagement, including protests
on worker rights violations at Glencore.
The workshop concluded with the establishment of global networks for Barrick Gold and AngloGold Ashanti workers, to be coordinated by the Tanzania Mines, Energy, Construction, and Allied Workers Union (TAMICO) and the Ghana Mine Workers Union (GMWU), respectively.
These networks aim to complement national union activities, forming part of a broader IndustriALL project to build resilient trade union power within multinational mining companies.
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WFTU Solidarity Statement with Starbucks Workers
BY CENTRAL WFTU, 17 SEP 2025
The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), representing over 110 million workers across 134 countries, stands in firm solidarity with the Starbucks baristas struggling for a union collective contract.
For four years, these workers—from Buffalo to Seattle—have led a historic campaign for dignity, fair wages, and union recognition in one of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Unionized baristas now number over 12,000—and their movement is growing. Their struggle is not just for themselves, but for all workers fighting against the unacceptable anti-union tactics.
The WFTU calls upon its affiliates and friends, all the militant and class-oriented trade unions, to express their full solidarity with the struggling Starbucks 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