Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 6 March 2026 #IWD2026
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
6 March 2026
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SACTWU to protest against exploitative sourcing practices of clothing retailers
- Media Invite: SAMWU to convene its 13th National Congress under the theme “Towards 4 Decades and Beyond in Defence of Workers’ Interests”
- South Africa
- Post meeting between COSATU Gauteng Provincial Office Bearers and Gauteng Premier and his Executive
- President Cyril Ramaphosa declares Special Official Funeral Category 2 to honour former Minister Mosiuoa Lekota
- Special Investigating Unit on Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum launch
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- From words to power: feminist trade unionism at the heart of IndustriALL
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SACTWU to protest against exploitative sourcing practices of clothing retailers
Bonita Loubser, SACTWU General Secretary, 6 March 2026
The Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) will tomorrow stage a protest against the exploitative sourcing practices of clothing retailers.
The protest will take place as follows:
DATE: Saturday, 7 March 2026
TIME: 12H00 – 13h00
VENUE: Strand Street (Cape Sun Hotel vicinity) & St George’s Mall, Cape Town.
The media is invited to cover the protest.
If further information is required, kindly contact SACTWU’s National Bargaining Officer, Mr Fachmy Abrahams, on cell number 081 472 5841.
Issued by SACTWU
Bonita Loubser
GENERAL SECRETARY
Southern African Clothing & Textiles Workers Union
Phone: +27 (0) 21 447 4570
Fax: +27 (0) 21 447 2194
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Media Invite: SAMWU to convene its 13th National Congress under the theme “Towards 4 Decades and Beyond in Defence of Workers’ Interests”
Papikie Mohale, SAMWU National Media Officer, 03 March 2026
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) will convene its 13th National Congress from 17 to 19 March 2026 at Church Unlimited, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.
Held under the theme “Towards 4 Decades and Beyond in Defence of Workers’ Interests,” this Congress marks an important milestone as the Union reflects on nearly forty years of militant struggle, organisational consolidation, and unwavering defence of municipal and water sector workers.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the open sessions of Congress on 17 and 19 March 2026.
The Congress will be addressed by the national leadership of the Alliance partners: The African National Congress (ANC), The South African Communist Party (SACP), The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
These addresses will engage the political, economic and social challenges confronting workers and outline the programme required to defend and advance working-class interests.
The 13th National Congress will deliberate on key organisational, political and collective bargaining matters, including strategies to strengthen the Union and respond decisively to the deepening crisis in local government.
Members of the media are encouraged to confirm their attendance with the National Media Officer, Cde Papikie Mohale, at pap...@samwu.org.za in order to secure accreditation by 10 March 2026.
Please note that only accredited members of the media will be allowed access to the Congress venue.
Issued by SAMWU Secretariat
Papikie Mohale
National Media Officer
076 795 8670
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
Post meeting between COSATU Gauteng Provincial Office Bearers and Gauteng Premier and his Executive
Louisah Modikwe, COSATU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, 06 March 2026
The Provincial Office Bearers of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Gauteng had a fruitful meeting with the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi on Friday, 06 March.
The meeting was attended by the Premier and some members of his Executive.
At the core of the meeting was COSATU’s report on the implementation of the 2025 State of the Province Address (SOPA) anchored around the 13 Gauteng Problems, COSATU’s mapping of the 2025 SOPA promises and commitments, and the role of workers towards the implementation of the 2026 SOPA promises and commitments.
The meeting was preceded by COSATU’s presentation on its 2025 SOPA report, mapping of the 2026 SOPA promises and commitments. COSATU grounded this meeting on the principle of planning and accountability, working together to deliver services to the people of Gauteng, maintenance of cordial labour relations in the province and changing the culture of work towards the delivery of services.
In its presentation, COSATU provided possible solutions on crime and lawlessness, GBV, cable theft and infrastructure vandalism, and maintenance of cordial labour relations in the province.
The meeting was frank, robust and concluded to resuscitate the labour relations forum and convening of the Provincial Labour Summit, convene sectoral meetings, convene a meeting with investors who invested on job creation schemes as pronounced during SOPA, convene a meeting with COSATU Affiliates, the Premier and his Executive Committee, convening of quarterly meetings to evaluate the implementation of Annual Performance Plans by Government Departments, Entities and Municipalities, and working together to develop patriotic public service cadres dedicated to deliver public service to all residents of Gauteng.
Issued by COSATU Gauteng
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President Cyril Ramaphosa declares Special Official Funeral Category 2 to honour former Minister Mosiuoa Lekota
06 Mar 2026
President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late former Minister of Defence and leader of the Congress of the People (COPE) Mr Mosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota will be honoured with a Special Official Funeral Category 2 on Saturday, 14 March 2026.
Mr Lekota, who served the nation as a struggle activist, inaugural Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Premier of the Free State, Minister of Defence, and co-founder of the Congress of the People, passed away on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, at the age of 77.
President Ramaphosa reiterates his deep condolences to the Lekota family, the Congress of the People and Mr Lekota’s comrades and associates across the political spectrum.
President Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Mr Lekota as “a patriot, freedom fighter, and servant of the people whose life story is closely intertwined with our journey of struggle and the realisation of democracy.”
The President said: “We honour him especially for his principled dedication to non-racialism during our struggle and in a liberated South Africa.
“We deeply value his service to his home province where he served as Premier and to our Armed Forces and our national security, in his role as Minister of Defence.”
Reflecting the nation’s appreciation, President Ramaphosa has declared that Mr Lekota will be accorded a Special Official Funeral Category 2 which will take place in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 14 March 2026.
The funeral will feature ceremonial elements provided by the South African Police Service.
President Ramaphosa has directed that the National Flag be flown at half-mast at all flag stations from tomorrow morning, Saturday, 7 March 2026, until the evening of the funeral on 14 March 2026.
Media
enquiries:
Vincent Magwenya
Spokesperson to the President
E-mail: me...@presidency.gov.za
Issued by The Presidency
__________________
Special Investigating Unit on Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum launch
05 Mar 2026
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and the Department of Water and Sanitation have launched the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (WSACF) as an arm in the fight against corruption in the water sector.
The establishment of the forum follows the findings from 16 Special Investigating Unit (SIU) proclamations related to the Department of Water and Sanitation. With nine investigations completed and seven still active, the need for a coordinated anti-corruption response in water management has become urgent and undeniable.
The WSACF is anchored in Pillar Six of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), which focuses on protecting vulnerable sectors and strengthening integrity systems. By adopting a risk-based approach, the forum will drive investigation, prevention, and enforcement measures to ensure that South Africa’s water resources, vital for sustainable development, are shielded from corruption and mismanagement.
The WSACF is a strategic intervention aimed at developing tailored solutions to address corruption risks in the water sector. By adopting a risk-based approach, the forum will focus on investigation, prevention, and enforcement to safeguard South Africa’s water resources, which are essential for sustainable development.
The WSACF also aligns itself with the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, which focuses on water security and sustainable development. It also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of clean water and sanitation for everyone.
This initiative aligns with what the NACS terms as the whole-of-society approach, which seeks to enhance and mobilise the inclusive participation of the public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia to prevent and combat corruption.
Key objectives of the WSACF
Support anti-corruption initiatives in the water sector.
Foster collaboration among stakeholders to combat corruption effectively.
Coordinate law enforcement efforts to enhance investigative capacity.
Ensure tangible outcomes, including prosecutions, civil recoveries, and administrative actions.
Implement prevention measures to mitigate fraud and corruption risks.
Promote accountability within anti-corruption agencies through multi-stakeholder oversight.
A whole-of-society approach to corruption prevention
The WSACF embodies the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 vision of a corruption-free South Africa while supporting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which ensures access to clean water and sanitation for all. The forum brings together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including:
Law Enforcement Agencies
Chapter 9 Institutions
Civil Society Organisations and Water Activists
Private Sector Representatives
Public Sector (Government Departments and Municipalities)
Regulators
Traditional and Religious Leaders
Organised Labour
Water Conservation and Environmental Groups
This collaborative model strengthens accountability, closes gaps, and implements measurable and actionable prevention plans. Importantly, the forum will also hold anti-corruption agencies accountable, ensuring transparency and effectiveness in their operations.
A proven model for fighting corruption
The WSACF builds on the success of other sector-specific anti-corruption forums, including:
Health Sector Anti-Corruption Forum (HSACF), launched by the President on 01 October 2019.
Infrastructure and Built Environment Anti-Corruption Forum (IBACF), launched by Minister De Lille on 25 May 2021.
Local Government Anti-Corruption Forum (LGACF), launched by Minister Dlamini-Zuma on 20 September 2022.
Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF), launched by Minister Dr Leon Schreiber on 25 March 2025.
“As South Africa experiences water shortages in various parts of the country, we must move to ensure that we draw the lessons from our investigations. Water affects every living being, making it imperative for us to make fighting corruption in the sector a collective effort. The launch of the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum is a decisive step in protecting one of our nation’s most precious resources. Water is life, and corruption in this sector threatens not only service delivery but also the dignity and well-being of our people. Through this forum, we are sending a clear message: corruption will not be tolerated, and those who undermine the integrity of our water systems will face the full might of the law,” said Mr Leonard Lekgetho, Acting Head of the SIU and Chairperson of the WSACF.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Minister Pemmy Majodina emphasised the importance of being proactive and strengthening anti-corruption efforts in the water sector.
“When corruption infiltrates the water sector, it does not simply distort procurement processes or inflate invoices. It dries up taps, delays infrastructure, contaminates rivers and erodes public trust. In a water-scarce country such as South Africa, corruption is not a victimless crime. It is a direct assault on human dignity and development. Every rand lost to corruption is a rand not spent on fixing leaks, expanding supply schemes or protecting our freshwater ecosystems.”
Enquiries:
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 060 561 8935
E-mail: mav...@dws.gov.za
Senior
External Communication Specialist
Gabisile Ngcobo
Cell: 078 965 9966
E-mail: gng...@siu.org.za
Issued by Special Investigating Unit
International-Solidarity
From words to power: feminist trade unionism at the heart of IndustriALL
Women delegates speaking in the feminist resolution at IndustriALL's 4th Congress in Sydney November 2025
5 March, 2026
In November 2025, as delegates gathered at IndustriALL’s fourth congress in Sydney, feminist trade unionism took centre stage. vice president Rose Omamo set the political tone for what would become a defining moment for the organization.
In November 2025, as delegates gathered at IndustriALL’s fourth congress in Sydney, feminist trade unionism took centre stage. vice president Rose Omamo set the political tone for what would become a defining moment for the organization.
“This resolution calls us to adopt feminism as a transformative political project. It is a tool to confront the root causes of oppression.”
Her intervention was not procedural. It was directional. As a long-time advocate for feminist trade unionism within IndustriALL, her words reflected years of organizing work from the women’s committee that shaped the resolution and built momentum toward this moment. Feminism, she made clear, is not an accessory theme. It is a political framework for power.
When the vote came, there were no votes against. No abstentions.
This was not a symbolic moment. It was a strategic turning point, a deliberate political decision by IndustriALL affiliates to place feminist trade unionism at the centre of the organization’s agenda.
What happened in Sydney marked a structural shift. Feminism was no longer positioned at the margins of union debate. It was recognized as central to organizing strategies, bargaining priorities and global direction.
The feminist resolution states that feminist trade unionism must be mainstreamed across all areas of IndustriALL’s work, from Just Transition to trade policy, from organizing to global framework agreements, from occupational health and safety to corporate accountability.
This is not an add-on. It defines how the organization moves forward.
Feminism as a transformative political project
If Rose Omamo set the political direction, the first intervention from the floor demonstrated that feminist trade unionism is a collective commitment, including from male leadership.
Etienne Vlok from SACTWU in South Africa, began by naming women leaders across his union structures, presidents, general secretaries and global representatives. It was not a rhetorical gesture. It was recognition of concrete shifts in power.
“I come from a union whose president is a woman. I come from a union whose general secretary is a woman… This makes me proud.”
This expressed pride with purpose. It acknowledged progress while refusing complacency.
“There are now more than 40 per cent women delegates in this congress. But 40 per cent is not equality. It is a foundation to build on.”
As the first speaker in the debate, and as a male trade unionist, his message was clear: feminist transformation is not a women’s issue. It is a union issue. Representation alone is not the goal. Structural equality is.
The resolution reflects this approach. It demands that feminist thinking inform organizing strategies, collective bargaining and union governance.
Women’s leadership must not only be visible but empowered, resourced and embedded in decision-making processes.
Challenging patriarchal union cultures
Several affiliates spoke candidly about internal union dynamics.
Leontine Mbolanomena from FESATI Madagascar was direct:
“We can give quotas. We can give titles to women. But we don’t trust the quotas. They don’t get real responsibilities and make decisions.”
Her words resonated because they addressed an uncomfortable truth. Formal inclusion does not automatically translate into power. Feminist trade unionism requires structural change in decision-making processes, accountability and leadership culture.
Maria Travasson Ramos from CNM CUT Brazil sharpened the political stakes:
“Feminism must be part of our everyday work. Not empty words but a real policy that fights for justice. There can be no strong trade unions without strong feminism.”
This logic runs through the resolution. Feminist principles must shape union structures, policies and campaigns. The aim is not visibility. It is transformation.
Grounded in workplace realities
The debate was rooted in lived experience from sectors where women workers face systemic discrimination and violence.
Rukmini VP from INTWF India explained:
“I have been a witness to routine harassment and discrimination of women employees at the workplace.”
Endang Wahyuningsih from FSP KEP Indonesia connected feminist organizing directly to occupational health and safety:
“Women should not only be in the women’s committee. They must be represented in all committees, especially OHS, where women workers need protection, including protection of their reproductive health and freedom from sexual harassment.”
The resolution expands OHS standards to explicitly include sexual and reproductive health and rights and calls for gender-transformative training across supply chains. It strengthens commitments to institutionalize prevention of gender-based violence and harassment in collective agreements and labour frameworks.
Sujana Purba from FSP2KI Indonesia put it plainly:
“There shouldn’t be any toleration for sexual harassment or discrimination.”
These demands align with the resolution’s call for transparent pay practices and structural mechanisms to eliminate gender-based wage and promotion disparities.
Feminist political economy
One of the most forward-looking aspects of the resolution is its embrace of feminist political economy.
The text links gender justice to global trade regimes, neoliberal restructuring and climate crisis. It calls for a coordinated feminist political economy strategy within IndustriALL to shape trade policies and solidarity responses.
Darius Guerrero from PTGWO in the Philippines articulated this connection clearly:
“We push for a wealth tax and for climate justice so that both are central to the Just Transition we are fighting for.”
The resolution demands a gender Just Transition that incorporates care work and women’s economic agency. It recognizes care work as foundational labour that must be formalized, protected and integrated into collective bargaining and economic policy. This shifts feminist trade unionism beyond representation and into economic restructuring.
Standing firm against backlash
The resolution also addresses the rise of right-wing authoritarianism and anti-feminist backlash. It commits unions to defend civic space and protect women organizers facing repression.
Lamia Safa from SNP-CDT in Morocco framed the broader stakes:
“Liberating women is the liberation of our society.”
In the current global climate, this is not a neutral position. It is a strategic one.
Leadership and institutional ownership
Reflecting after Congress, assistant general secretary Christina Olivier describes the resolution as a defining moment for the organization’s political direction.
“This resolution makes clear that feminism is not a side issue for IndustriALL. It is central to how we organize, how we bargain and how we fight. In the current global climate of inequality and backlash, taking this position is not optional. It is necessary.”
She emphasizes that the unanimous vote sent a strong signal internally and externally:
“Our affiliates have spoken with one voice. Feminist trade unionism is the direction of travel for our movement.”
For leadership, the significance of the resolution lies not only in its adoption, but in what it demands moving forward, concrete changes in organizing strategies, bargaining priorities and institutional culture.
From words to power
The resolution upholds a collective vision of feminist trade unionism that centres the leadership, experiences and rights of women workers in all their diversity.
In Sydney, affiliates did more than adopt a text. They claimed feminism as a central organizing framework for confronting corporate power, climate injustice and economic inequality.
From representation to restructuring
From recognition to redistribution of power
From words to power
Feminist trade unionism has moved from commitment to strategy at the centre of IndustriALL’s agenda. In doing so, the organization has positioned itself as a forward-looking global union prepared to meet the political challenges of this moment with clarity and conviction.
______________________________
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