Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 17 June 2025
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
18 June 2025
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SADTU vehemently rejects DA’s unlawful guidelines for purposes of implementing certain Sections of the BELA ACT
- COSATU presented its submission on the Division of Revenue and Public Sector Pension and Related Payments Bills to Parliament
- South Africa
- SADTU KZN statement on the developments in education in the province
- The ANC Study Group on communications and digital technologies on challenges and progress regarding cost to communicate, connectivity, data privacy, and related matters
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Landmark protections mark 2025 International Labour Conference
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SADTU vehemently rejects DA’s unlawful guidelines for purposes of implementing certain Sections of the BELA ACT
Dr Mugwena Maluleke, SADTU General Secretary, 13 June 2025
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) is dismayed by the arrogance of the Minister of Basic Education by releasing the purported guidelines for the implementation of the Bela Act.
These guidelines were sent to MECs for Education and all Heads of Provincial
Education Departments on Thursday, 12 June 2025
The Minister seems confused of her legal authority in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. SADTU, through its lawyers, have written to the Minister repeatedly reminding her that she cannot exercise a power she does not have in law, and we are yet to understand what legal basis and authority these purported guidelines derive from.
The law is clear that the Minister is only allowed to make regulations, not guidelines, in terms of the Bela Act, and that is the very reason that SADTU rejected these guidelines in the first place and by the Minister’s own admission, the Bela Act does not expressly provide for the drafting and issuing of these guidelines and further that it has no binding or lawful effect.
Meanwhile she refers to them as intended for the implementation of Bela.
SADTU can only deduct from her actions, that the Minister is seeking to cause confusion with her political gimmick of pushing her DA’s agenda of the Bela Act which we are well aware of their tactics trying to halt its full implementation around sections 4 and 5.
The Minister must remember her role as an executive authority and must back off on areas that do not concern her. She continues to undermine the Constitution of our country and the National Education Policy Act that provide consultation with all stakeholders in education on matters of education. She must also remember that SADTU is the largest education union in the country and will not tolerate being a spectator in matters that involve us.
SADTU has been fully compliant and engaged in the development of the regulations
that were concluded end of March this year and do not understand why there has been no further movement on the regulations since. We therefore demand that the Minister retracts these guidelines and stop delaying tactics. We want the process to be lawful and be speeded up. We further call on all institutions of learning and School Governing Bodies to ignore these so-called guidelines. MECs and Heads of Departments are urged not to share these guidelines with schools.
We call on all our members who serve in the School Governing Bodies across the country to ignore these unlawful guidelines and demand for the implementation of the regulations.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
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COSATU presented its submission on the Division of Revenue and Public Sector Pension and Related Payments Bills to Parliament
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 13 June 2025
COSATU presented its submission on the 2025/6 Budget’s Division of Revenue (allocations to provincial and local government) and Public Sector Pensions and Related Payments Bills to Parliament’s Standing Committee: Appropriations.
The Federation welcomes the positive increase in funding for critical and economic infrastructure, with an additional R33 billion bringing total infrastructure investments over the next three years to a total of R1.03 trillion.
This includes roads (R402bn), water (R156bn), plus investments in rail, ports, and four new hospitals in Limpopo and the Westen Cape and 13 000 university beds. The R12.7 billion investments in Metro Rail will be a boost to 10 million workers across the metros, providing them more affordable and faster transport to get to work.
Key to ensuring the successful rollout of the infrastructure programme is for law enforcement organs to ramp up the fight against corruption, the construction mafia and cable theft syndicates, as well as vandalism. Similarly, Parliament will need to hold a tight leash over provincial and local government to make sure targets as well as B-BBEE and local procurement commitments are met at all times.
The Federation appreciates the additional funding to help rebuild frontline public services crippled by years of reckless neo-liberal austerity budget cuts, including R29 billion for education and R28.9 billion for health as well filling key frontline vacancies including 800 doctors, 4 000 police officers, nurses and teachers, plus rolling out of Grade R to 700 000 learners as per the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. The over R2.1 billion allocated towards laying the foundations for the National Health Insurance is a welcome sign amidst the onslaught of attacks on government’s efforts to rollout universal access to public healthcare.
However, though these are positive initial steps in the right direction, they are far from enough to undo years of brutal budget cuts that have crippled public services. The additional posts whilst welcome, are far too little to reverse the drastic decline in the ratios of teachers to learners, nurses and doctors to patients, police officers to communities amongst others.
Whilst COSATU supports allocations to local government, including R2.3 billion to roll out prepaid electricity meters, we are deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating state of many municipalities and basic services, including 16 struggling to pay staff in the North West, Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern and Eastern Cape Provinces and more failing to pay pension funds their due amounts. Interventions to stabilise and rebuild local government, including a new funding model and a shift towards the District Development Model must be accelerated. We cannot afford the further collapse of many municipalities and basic services.
COSATU commends government for moving away previous inexplicable cuts to the Presidential Employment Programme which has provided invaluable experience to the unemployed with an R8.8 billion boost, including R3.7 billion for the Teaching Assistants, plus R22bn from the UIF for job creation.
Whilst these are not enough for the 12 million unemployed, they are a welcome step forward.
Issued by COSATU
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SADTU KZN statement on the developments in education in the province
Nomarashiya Caluza, SADTU KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Secretary, 17 June 2025
On the 16th of June 2025, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) had a meeting with the Head of Department, Mr GN Ngcobo regarding the payment plan and the status of June examinations which had been affected in the past week.
This meeting with the HOD and his top management followed the meeting with the Premier which gave light on resolving the current funding challenges confronting schools in KZN.
The Provincial Executive Committee of SADTU had its first mee9ng with the employer on the 14th of June 2025 but there was a need for the employer to get more information regarding the number of schools that did not write exams as they lacked resources to administer the same and develop and present a plan to assist these schools.
This is so because the mere commitment by the Premier to assist the department with R900 000 000 does not automatically remove the reality that schools have no money and are waiting for the allocation from the department.
In the meeting of the 16th of June, the employer made a presentation as follows:
• That upon receiving the Premier’s committed money, the employer will be making payments to schools. There is commitment to make payments by the 4th of July 2025.
• On the 2024 basic and LTSM allocation backlog, the Department will be making payments as they receive their equitable share.
In summary, the department promised to make payments by the 4th and 31st of July 2025. It must be acknowledged that the Premier made an undertaking to make the money available to the department in two weeks time after the 12th of June 2025.
On Examinations
The employer presented a revised 9metable which will ensure that on the 18th of June 2025, all schools resume their mid-term examination. Schools that do not have the necessary resources to administer June examination will be assisted by the department through printing enough examination papers for all affected schools. The Union supports the revised timetable.
On Compulsory Common Tests
The Union used the meeting to reiterate its stance on standardised tests. Forcing schools to write common tests undermines the intellectual capacity of teachers who teach but get denied the opportunity to assess their learners. It is noted that the Department in KZN imposes the writing of common tests by all schools that got below 85% in the 2024 NSC examination.
This is unacceptable and contradicts DBE D3 Circular of 2023 which clarifies what underperformance is. Furthermore, the Department in its presentation suggested that there are high performing schools that voluntarily applied to write common tests. This is far from the truth as schools are forced to write these tests.
The writing of common tests is costly to the Department and remains unjustifiable especially during this time when the department is struggling financially.
To this effect, the Department committed to convene a meeting by the 27th of June 2025 wherein a proper discussion on standardised tests in KZN will take place.
In conclusion, the union suspends its Work to Rule to allow the processing of payments and writing of examinations.
The union Leadership will con9nue to have meetings with the department as a way of monitoring the implementation of the decisions and commitments done by the employer.
We thank our members for their commitment in ensuring that the program becomes a success and that it served the purpose. Everyone knows that without their effort and dedication on the picket line- we would not have scored these victories for our schools.
The end
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The ANC Study Group on communications and digital technologies on challenges and progress regarding cost to communicate, connectivity, data privacy, and related matters
13 June 2025
The ANC Study Group on Communications and Digital Technologies champions the urgent view that there is a need to bring down the cost of data, expand universal network coverage and ensure that every South African-regardless of geography or income status-can be part of the information superhighway and the knowledge economy.
We welcomed and appreciated the presentations by the various Mobile Network Operators to the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies today where they gave an overview of their company status reports and highlighted the challenges to address our network operations.
However, key to what we believe is necessary to move our country forward and to ensure that every citizen enjoys the right to communicate, we want to see a greater and more urgent commitment by our Mobile Network Operators to lower data costs. South Africa’s data costs are amongst the highest in the world.
Data prices favour the rich and penalise the poor. Prepaid mobile data which is most often purchased by poorer consumers who can only afford to buy smaller bundles, end up paying a much higher premium for the same amount of data than wealthier consumers who can purchase larger bundles or sign up for contracts. Apart from this, purchasing data via online platforms offer different pricing or promotion schemes that further disadvantage low-income users.
Further, the data expiration mandate also disadvantages the consumer, and here again, it is mainly the poor who are affected. Airtime bundles expiring, even within days, negatively impacts consumers, particularly those in low-income brackets. This is due to data being a necessity for accessing information, education, job opportunities, and other vital services.
Data rollovers must be considered.
Network coverage and accessibility is another burden to bear, especially by those who live in far flung and rural areas. It is unacceptable that those who live in these areas, have to climb trees or mountains to reach higher ground just so that they are able to receive a connection. It is not laudable to speak of providing 99% 2G coverage or 45% 5G coverage, if those who need access to the service are left on the margins.
Whilst we are encouraged by the social responsibility initiatives which all the mobile network operators have outlined. They spoke of being aligned with national goals and priorities which include digital inclusion, economic empowerment, and community development. However, our rural schools are still left out in the cold. The lack of internet access creates a digital divide, impacting educational opportunities for rural students.
Providing certain schools with laptops without consistent support- in terms of infrastructure, free data, solar power, maintenance or tokens defeats the very purpose social responsibility.
Another worrying concern is where we see the mobile network operators moving into the fintech space. Offering insurance policies and allowing their apps to be used as banking apps offering all the essential features, such as paying bills, applying for loans, recharging airtime, convenient online payments, and playing the lotto. While there are benefits to this, there are concerns about the associated risks.
The plight of our people and the sobering realities they face, particularly in the communication space, obliges our mobile network operators to actively contribute to South Africa's socio-economic landscape while navigating existing legislative frameworks. It thus becomes imperative for these operators to commit to strategies to begin reducing the cost of data services, contribute to job creation and economic inclusion especially for the vulnerable- women, youth, persons with disabilities, ensure universal and quality access to connectivity for all, especially in rural areas and fulfil compliance with universal service obligations and incremental improvements in school connectivity.
We are fully cognizant of the fact that the licences of these MNOs are set to be renewed within the next three years, and the ANC Study group on Communications and Digital Technologies is determined that in this term, the ANC’s abiding resolution to address the digital divide, particularly in rural and previously disadvantaged areas and our commitment to democratizing the communications sector and ensuring that all citizens have access to infrastructure and services.
Issued
by the Whip of the ANC Study Group on Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon SI Subrathie.
For
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International-Solidarity
Landmark protections mark 2025 International Labour Conference
17 June, 2025
Over 5,400 delegates from governments, workers’ and employers’ organizations across 187 ILO member states met for the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), on 2-13 June in Geneva. The meeting concluded with significant progress on global labour standards, including the adoption of a groundbreaking new convention on biological hazards in the workplace.
A key achievement of this year’s ILC was the adoption of the first-ever international labour standard, aimed at preventing exposure to biological hazards in the workplace. Convention 192, accompanied by a Recommendation, provides a comprehensive framework to protect workers from biological risks, present and emerging, across all types of work environments. This new standard is expected to play a critical role in enhancing occupational safety and health globally.
The ILC launched the first standard-setting discussion on decent work in the platform economy, a milestone in the fight for the rights of gig and digital workers. The future standards will take the form of a Convention supported by a Recommendation, to be finalized at the 114th ILC in 2026. Among other things, the proposed instruments will cover fundamental rights at work, fair remuneration and social protection, occupational safety and health, as well as data protection and privacy.
Addressing informality
A major outcome of the ILC was the adoption of a Resolution on transitioning from informal to formal employment, reaffirming the principles of Recommendation 204 and urging countries to implement national strategies for formalization.
The Workers’ Group played a vital role in shaping the resolution, insisting on stronger language around freedom of association, collective bargaining, and labour rights for the global workforce.
Key elements of the resolution include:
Expanded recognition of vulnerable workers, like care workers, recycling workers and miners
Emphasis on gender-responsive policies
Acknowledgement of informal work driven by lack of legal compliance, organized crime, stigmatization and inadequate care infrastructure
Call for robust enforcement of labour laws and universal social protection
Support for due diligence and supply chain regulation to address informal employment within global business operations
Workers’ rights are human rights
In a politically significant decision, the ILC voted to grant Palestine non-member observer status, transitioning from its previous classification as a liberation movement. This entitles Palestine to participate in ILO meetings as a non-member observer state, aligning with its growing international recognition.
The ILC adopted a resolution on Myanmar, invoking Article 33 of the ILO Constitution against Myanmar’s military junta. Only used twice before in ILO's history, this demands that the military authorities fully implement the recommendations of the ILO Commission of Inquiry, particularly regarding freedom of association and the elimination of forced labour. The Resolution calls for enhanced international scrutiny and support to uphold the rights of Myanmar’s workers.
The Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) examined 24 individual country cases. During the special sitting on Belarus, IndustriALL condemned the ongoing repression of democratic trade unionism, highlighting the dissolution of its affiliates and the imprisonment of union leaders on politically motivated charges. IndustriALL called for the immediate and unconditional release of imprisoned activists, including Henadz Fiadynich, Vatslau Areshka, and five female leaders such as Volha Brytsikava, many of whom face abuse, isolation, and declining health. International scrutiny must remain until meaningful progress is made by the Belarusian government.
In the session on Hungary, IndustriALL called out the Hungarian government for undermining trade union rights through vague laws, digital surveillance of workers and weakened social dialogue. IndustriALL condemned the abolition of payroll deduction for union dues, which has caused a sharp decline in union membership and finances, and called for urgent reforms to protect freedom of expression, simplify union registration, amend the Strike Act and restore sectoral collective bargaining.
IndustriALL also spoke on cases concerning Georgia, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia, where workers are facing increasing reduced spaces for organizing, along with weakening labour laws.
Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:
“This year’s International Labour Conference marks a turning point for workers and trade unions globally. The adoption of the Convention on biological hazards sets a new benchmark for workplace safety, while launching negotiations for decent work in the platform economy is a major win for precarious workers.
“Crucially, the application of Article 33 sanctions on Myanmar sends a powerful signal; the military junta’s continued, violent repression of unions and workers will have consequences in the international community. IndustriALL will continue to defend our affiliates and their fundamental labour rights.”
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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