Taking COSATU Today Forward, 27 November 2025 #Cosatu40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #COSATU scheduled to hold #CosatuGolfDay at Johannesburg Country Club, Woodmead on December 4 #Cosatu40 #VioletSeboniBrigade #Cosatu40thAnniversary #Cosatu scheduled to hold its 40th Anniversary at Dobsonville, Soweto on December 6 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary #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
27 November 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU Post CEC meeting media briefing cancelled
- SAMWU media invite to the Ekurhuleni march
- Media Alert: SACTWU Gauteng to Convene its Provincial Shop Stewards Council
- COSATU scheduled to hold a post Central Executive Committee (CEC) media briefing on Thursday, 27 November 2025
- Swinging for Dignity: COSATU and President Ramaphosa Tee Off for a Cause
- Applications for media accreditation to cover COSATU 40th Anniversary rally officially opened
- South Africa
- COSATU observes 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign
- SAMWU rejects DA’s attempt to influence governance of Tshwane from the grave
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- COSATU notes with deep disappointment the latest statement by the United States' Government on South Africa
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
COSATU Post CEC meeting media briefing cancelled
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 26 November 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions media briefing that was planned for tomorrow, the 27th of November 2025 has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.
The briefing was meant to communicate the outcome of the ordinary Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting that started on the 24th of November 2025.
A statement communicating the outcome of this meeting will be issued.
We
apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Issued by COSATU
_____________________
SAMWU
media invite to the Ekurhuleni march
Tshepang
langa, SMAWU Ekurhuleni Regional Secretary, 26
November 2025
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in Ekurhuleni will on Thursday, 27 November 2025 be marching to the City of Ekurhuleni Municipality Head Office in Germiston to deliver a memorandum of demands.
The
memorandum will detail all challenges faced by Municipal workers in Ekurhuleni
Details of the march are as follows:
Date : 27 November 2025
Starting point : Germiston, Dellville South, behind swimming pool
Time : 09h00
Amongst issues to highlighted on the memorandum are the following:
• Salary disparities
• Non consultation on business units
• Encashment of leave days
• Insourcing of cleaners and security guards
• Conditions of service of Metro Police officers
Issued by SAMWU Ekurhuleni Region
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Media Alert: SACTWU Gauteng to convene its Provincial Shop Stewards Council
Oupa Hadebe, SACTWU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, 26 November 2025
Kindly receive an invitation for the media to cover the SACTWU Provincial Shop Stewards Council, to be held at the SACTWU Gauteng Provincial Offices (111 Commissioner Street, Solly Sachs House, 1st Floor) on 28 November 2025 at 11:00.
The Provincial Shop Stewards Council is convened in terms of the Constitution to engage with workers about key issues affecting the industries to which we organise.
This session will place a strong focus on the widespread non-compliance in factories, including the use of undocumented and illegal labour to perpetuate exploitation and undermine bargaining council agreements.
The meeting will further outline actions and interventions that workers and the union will undertake, while calling for strengthened enforcement from the Department of Labour inspectors, SARS, and other relevant stakeholders.
In addition, the Council will highlight the start of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, reaffirming SACTWU’s commitment to fighting gender-based violence both inside and outside the workplace.
Workers will also be mobilised to participate in the upcoming COSATU 40th Anniversary celebrations, scheduled to take place at Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto, on 6 December 2025, with gates opening at 07:30.
The Provincial Shop Stewards Council will be addressed by SACTWU’s President, SACP, COSATU and SANCO
Issued by SACTWU Gauteng
For media inquiries, contact: Zanele Kumalo
SACTWU Gauteng Administrator
Mobile: 0789007443
Email: zan...@sactwu.org.za
P.p Z. Kumalo
Oupa Hadebe
Provincial Secretary
_____________________
Swinging for Dignity: COSATU and President Ramaphosa Tee Off for a Cause
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 24 November 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is thrilled to announce its second annual Charity Golf Challenge, an inspiring event where labour, business and government unite on the green for a great cause. Members of the media are warmly invited to attend and cover this unique blend of sport, leadership and social impact.
This flagship initiative is more than a Corporate Social Investment project — it is a powerful demonstration of COSATU’s unwavering commitment to social justice and restoring dignity in communities beyond the workplace.
In a true celebration of Ubuntu, President Cyril Ramaphosa will join COSATU leaders, government departments and business partners on the golf course to help raise funds for its activities, school shoes and sanitary packs for underprivileged learners. Every swing will contribute to changing a child’s school experience and supporting their confidence and wellbeing.
Join us for a remarkable day of purpose-driven play:
COSATU Charity Golf Challenge
- Date: Thursday, 04 December 2025
- Presidential Tee off: 10:40
- Participants Tee off: 11:00 (Shotgun Start)
- Venue: Country Club Johannesburg (CCJ Woodmead)
The challenge will be followed by an elegant Gala Dinner at 18.30, where the day’s achievements will be celebrated and partners honoured.
Members of the media wishing to attend are invited to send their details to non...@cosatu.org.za
Issued by COSATU
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Applications for media accreditation to cover COSATU 40th Anniversary rally officially opened
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson,10 November 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) invites all members of the media to apply for accreditation to attend and cover the Federation’s historic 40th Anniversary rally. This momentous event is scheduled to take place on 6 December at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
COSATU was launched on 1 December 1985, at the height of the struggle against apartheid. Its formation brought together 33 competing unions and federations that were opposed to apartheid but committed to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa.
Alliance partners, local and international guests have been invited to celebrate 40 years of this vibrant movement advancing, defending and protecting the interests and rights of workers and the working class in South Africa and beyond.
Applications for accreditation may be submitted to mam...@cosatu.org.za or non...@cosatu.org.za with the following details:
Name:
Surname:
ID number:
Media House/Address:
Contact number/email:
Alternatively, an application form can be completed via this link:
COSATU 40th Anniversary Media Accreditation Application Form – Fill out form
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (National Spokesperson)
Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639
Email: zan...@cosatu.org.za
COSATU urges Parliament to charge the former RAF CEO for refusing to appear before SCOPA
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 26 November 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) urges Parliament to lay contempt of court charges against the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Road Accident Fund (RAF), Mr. Collins Letsoalo, for his blatant refusal to appear before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA). It is unacceptable for any current or former public servant, let alone senior executive, to refuse to appear before Parliament, irrespective of the size of their ego or bank balance.
Parliament is a fundamental pillar of South Africa’s constitutional democracy. The legislature is explicitly mandated and required by the Constitution to hold all state officials accountable for their actions, this includes requiring their appearance before parliamentary committees.
The RAF has been a site of grotesque state capture and corruption with billions siphoned off by senior management and road accident lawyers. This has seen thousands of working-class claimants denied billions of Rands due to compensate them for medical and rehabilitation expenses as well as relief for loss of income. SCOPA’s public hearings on the RAF have shone a shameful spotlight on a reign of terror against its employees who have sought to block and blow the whistle on corruption.
SCOPA is well within its right to summon the former CEO to account for his role in the chaos that is the RAF. The Power, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures empower parliamentary committees to subpoena any persons to answer questions and account for their actions. These subpoenas have equal standing in law as a court summons. Failure by any person to honour these is equivalent to contempt of court. Parliament must now act to have the former CEO charged with contempt, and if needs be, arrested and physically dragged before SCOPA.
It will not only be illegal but set a very dangerous precedent and expose Parliament to a constitutional crisis if this circus is allowed to continue. Parliament must act and send a clear message of dire consequences to any delinquent seeking to undermine the Constitution or Parliament, or any miscreant attempting to resuscitate the state capture project.
It is equally critical that government led by the African National Congress and the Minister for Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy, intensify their efforts to cleanse the state of corruption, including addressing the mismanagement and chaos at the RAF. We similarly urge the Minister to expedite the tabling of the RAF and Road Accident Benefits Scheme Bills at Cabinet and Parliament, as part of placing the RAF on a sustainable path and to ensure that its limited resources are dispensed in a manner that prioritises the working class and the poor.
COSATU will continue to demand and agitate for the RAF to be cleansed of the cancers of state capture and corruption.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
COSATU notes with deep disappointment the latest statement by the United States' Government on South Africa
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 27 November 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes with deep disappointment the latest statement by the United States (US) on South Africa. We welcome our Presidency’s dignified response affirming South Africa’s sovereignty, hard-won constitutional democracy and respect for multilateralism. The South African government can rest assured of the full support of COSATU and millions of workers across the nation.
We are dismayed that the allegations of white genocide and land grabs continue to be levelled despite them having been comprehensively proven as fake news by leading academics, media institutions and most importantly ordinary citizens of all races across South Africa. We are comforted by how these myths have been vociferously disputed by farmers, businesses and leading Afrikaners.
AfriForum and other fringe race baiting groups do not reflect the values or beliefs of ordinary South Africans, including our Afrikaner compatriots.
South Africa’s successful, progressive and inclusive G20 Presidency has made South Africans proud. The overwhelming support for South Africa’s 2025 Presidency from G20 member states has reaffirmed our belief in the value of multilateralism and diplomacy.
The United States is the world's largest economy and South Africa’s third largest trading partner. It is a major source of tourism and investment which collectively support over half a million South African jobs. US funding for South African HIV/AIDs programmes since 2003 has helped save millions of lives. A healthy, growing and mutually beneficial relationship between both nations is important to South African workers, as is a similarly positive partnership with the European Union, China, India, Japan and other leading economies. Whilst we value South Africa’s relations with the US, they must be based upon mutual respect.
The South African government will continue to receive the steadfast support of COSATU and where we believe it needs to adjust or address matters, we will be equally blunt in raising such issues.
We expect the Presidency to remain the lead point in addressing tensions in our bilateral relations with the US. We do not take kindly to politicians rushing to share their feelings with and twerking for the media on such sensitive matters that require the highest degrees of maturity. The actions of politicians carry real consequences for workers.
There are 20 000 health workers who lost their jobs with the ending of US health funding and thousands of health, agricultural and manufacturing workers whose livelihoods remain at risk.
We are equally disappointed that despite commitments by government to establish a package of support to assist affected workers and businesses, these have yet to reach them.
COSATU expects government to move with speed and provide tax relief, industrial incentives, loan holidays and fix the mess at the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s Temporary Employee Relief Scheme.
Workers and businesses whose livelihoods are at serious risk due to the 30% US tariff duty on South African exports, need actual solidarity and relief, not PowerPoint presentations and speeches.
Government must invest in the capacity of the Departments of International Relations and Cooperation and Trade, Industry and Competition. The capacity of our diplomatic presence around the world and in particular in the US and other leading economies leaves much to be desired. All embassies must have a capable ambassador, and other skilled personnel resourced to promote trade, investment and tourism.
COSATU will continue to work closely with and in support of the principled, sober and calm efforts by President Cyril Ramaphosa and government led by the African National Congress to stabilise, reset and rebuild this strategic relationship.
We remain confident that this reset can be done and all storms do come to an end. South African workers understand the fears of American workers who have lost jobs due to globalisation and deindustrialisation. We have been similarly heartened by the support we have received during these times from the American labour movement.
Issued by COSATU
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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