Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 25 May 2026 #CosatuCEC2026
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY COSATU Call Center Contacts: 010 002 2590 #Cosatu ordinary CEC is underway this week #WorkerControl #ClassWar #Cosatu40 #SACTU70 #ClassStruggle “Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism” #Back2Basics #JoinCOSATUNow #ClassConsciousness |
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
25 May 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- Watch | Is South Africa Fighting Inflation the Wrong Way?
- National Treasury on Jobs Fund launching 13th Funding Round
- South Africa
- COSATU urges the Reserve Bank not to increase the repo rate
- Conference of the Left Steering Committee Statement
- Minister Meth corrects misinformation regarding UIF Online Claims platform
- Government’s response to rating action of Moody’s Investors Service
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- SADC Ministers Of Foreign Affairs Retreat- Skukuza Outcome Statement
- South African Communist Party Statement on indictment of Raul Castro by US department of justice
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics#ClassWar
Watch
| Is South Africa Fighting Inflation the Wrong Way?
Watch
it here:
https://us.list-manage.com/5Xvw6mT2cUm?e=51614dd47b&c2id=f0238b14000e2a44c48926222adbaef4
The Economic Justice Matters discussion series, produced in collaboration with SMWX, returns with a timely conversation ahead of the next South African Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee meeting this Thursday, 28 May. Bringing together perspectives from
academia, the financial sector and civil society, the episode examines whether South Africa’s inflation-targeting framework remains appropriate for an economy facing weak growth, deep inequality, and structural unemployment and whether the current approach
to monetary policy is helping to fight inflation or choking the economy.
MONETARY POLICY AND THE INFLATION TARGET: ARE WE SACRIFICING SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND FULL EMPLOYMENT?
Broadcast date: Sunday, 24 May 2026
Guests: Gina Schoeman Ackermann (Citi Bank, Managing Director), Dr Roelof Botha (Economist), and Dr Mzwanele Ntshwanti (IEJ Senior Researcher).
Moderator: Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh
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As imported inflation pressures grow and interest rates remain elevated, this episode of Economic Justice Matters interrogates one of the country’s most consequential policy debates:
Is South Africa’s monetary policy framework appropriately calibrated for the country’s economic realities?
The discussion explores whether aggressive monetary tightening can effectively address inflation driven by fuel prices, global instability, and supply-side shocks, while also considering the consequences for investment, employment, household debt, and economic
growth. For critics of the current framework, the concern is that South Africa is sacrificing growth and jobs in pursuit of an excessively low inflation target, using inappropriate instruments. As Dr Mzwanele Ntshwanti argues, “we have lost the idea of full
employment,” warning that an overly restrictive inflation target risks limiting the policy space needed to respond to recurring global shocks.
Proponents of the inflation target, particularly in the financial sector, argue that lower inflation is essential for economic credibility and long-term recovery, and that inflation hurts the poor more than rising interest rates. Gina Schoeman Ackermann also
contends that “if you can get inflation structurally lower, you can then get interest rates structurally lower”.
The conversation also examines the real-world effects of interest rate decisions on borrowing costs, debt servicing, and investment. Dr Roelof Botha sharply critiques the current stance, arguing that “our inflation target is too low, our interest rates are
too high,” and warning that the rising cost of credit is undermining economic expansion. He further calls for the reconfiguration of the Monetary Policy Committee to make it more representative of society and more transparent in its operations.
Set against renewed global uncertainty and South Africa’s ongoing employment crisis, the episode ultimately asks whether the country’s current monetary policy approach is still fit for purpose and what a more developmental framework might look like.
Concept Note:
https://us.list-manage.com/hEWcHFztQJp?e=51614dd47b&c2id=f0238b14000e2a44c48926222adbaef4
ABOUT
THE ECONOMIC JUSTICE MATTERS DISCUSSION SERIES
The Economic Justice Matters discussion series is hosted by the IEJ to deepen public engagement on progressive economic alternatives and to respond to key political moments. The series creates a platform for diverse voices, including academics, activists, and
policymakers, to explore how, in the context of real-world dynamics, policy choices can be developed in ways that maximise their impact on economic justice.
In previous conversations with SMWX, we have tackled urgent issues shaping South Africa’s economy and society:
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National Treasury on Jobs Fund launching 13th Funding Round
22 May 2026
Jobs fund opens 13th Funding Round, catalysing demand-led growth in the green and informal economy
As
South Africa continues to grapple with persistently high unemployment and widening inequality, the National Treasury’s Jobs Fund has officially opened its 13th Funding Round, calling for bold, innovative solutions that can unlock scalable, sustainable employment.
Under the theme 'Catalysing Demand-Led Growth in the Green and Informal Economy', the new funding round will be open from 18 May to 30 June 2026.
The Fund seeks to partner with experienced intermediaries across the private, public, and non-profit sectors to accelerate job creation in high-potential areas of the economy, with a strong focus on the green and informal sectors. South Africa’s labour market
remains under significant strain. As of Q1 2026, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey showed the unemployment rate stood at 32.7%. Youth and women continue to face the highest barriers to entry, reinforcing the urgent need for targeted, scalable interventions
that can absorb labour and stimulate inclusive growth.
The Jobs Fund’s 13th Funding Round is a catalytic response to these challenges. By leveraging the match-funding model, the Fund aims to crowd in private and non-profit sector investment, de-risk innovation, and support solutions that can deliver measurable
employment outcomes at scale. Since its inception in 2011, the Jobs Fund has committed R7.7 billion in public funding, leveraging an additional R15.7 billion in matched contributions from partners. This collaborative approach has supported over 180 projects
across 12 funding rounds, resulting in more than 343,000 jobs and internships created, and over 418,000 work-seekers and entrepreneurs trained. Notably, 66% of programme participants have been youth and 58% women, with 98% from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
The 13th Funding Round builds on this track record by targeting sectors with strong labour absorption potential and long-term sustainability. In particular, the green economy presents a significant opportunity to drive job creation while advancing South Africa’s
transition to a more sustainable, low-carbon future. At the same time, the informal economy, which employs over 5.7 million people, remains underdeveloped relative to other emerging markets, highlighting the need for innovative approaches to unlock its full
potential. Despite these opportunities, both sectors face structural barriers, including limited access to finance, skills shortages, regulatory constraints, and market access challenges.
The Jobs Fund is therefore seeking proposals that directly address these constraints through innovative, scalable, and implementable solutions. “The scale of South Africa’s unemployment challenge requires a fundamentally different approach, one that moves beyond
traditional interventions and actively catalyses new markets, new industries, and new ways of working. Through the 13th Funding Round, we are looking to partner with organisations that are responding to today’s employment challenges and are actively shaping
the future of work in South Africa. This is about unlocking investment, enabling innovation, and delivering sustainable impact at scale,” said Najwah AllieEdries, Head of the Jobs Fund.
Applications for the 13th Funding Round are open to sector intermediaries with a proven track record of implementation and the ability to deliver measurable results within a three-year period. All proposals must demonstrate innovation, financial sustainability,
and a clear pathway to job creation, with a requirement for matched funding to ensure shared commitment and impact. The minimum grant to be allocated for successful applicants is R5 million. The funding round will operate on a competitive basis, with only
the most impactful and feasible proposals selected for support. While there is a strong focus on the green and informal economies, the Jobs Fund remains open to high-quality proposals from other sectors that demonstrate significant job creation potential.
Applications close on 30 June 2026 at 15h00. For more information on the application process and eligibility criteria, or to submit a proposal, applicants are encouraged to visit the Jobs Fund website or contact jobs...@treasury.gov.za.
As South Africa looks to accelerate economic recovery and build a more inclusive future, the 13th Funding Round represents a critical opportunity to harness innovation, mobilise investment, and create meaningful employment at scale. END About the Jobs Fund
The Jobs Fund was established by the National Treasury in June 2011 to support innovative initiatives and approaches to sustainable job creation. It is administered through the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC).
The R9 billion fund operates on challenge fund principles, with all allocations made on a competitive and transparent basis. The Jobs Fund is not a mass employment programme, nor does it seek to address the long-term structural causes of unemployment in isolation.
Rather, it provides a targeted programme of support for effective labour market interventions that result in sustainable employment creation.
Media Enquiries:
Jobs Fund Communications
E-mail: jobs...@treasury.gov.za
Issued by National Treasury
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
COSATU urges the Reserve Bank not to increase the repo rate
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 25 May 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) urges the South African Reserve Bank not to increase the repo rate during its Monetary Policy Committee meeting this week.
Workers are battling to cope with massive increases in the cost of living, in particular the doubling of international oil and fuel prices due to the war of insanity unleashed in the Persian Gulf, the source of 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies. Working- and middle-class families have felt the pain with subsequent taxi and bus fare increases as well as above inflation electricity tariff hikes.
Most workers are drowning in debt and borrowing simply to buy food, electricity and transport and service unaffordable debt levels. Those fortunate to have jobs support seven relatives on average. Many workers spend up to 40% of their already meagre wages on transport.
The cause of the current rise in inflation is solely due to the war in the Middle East and not domestic demand. There is nothing that South Africa can do to manage this geo-political crisis of anarchy. Squeezing already struggling workers and consumers would make as much economic sense as decapitating a patient to resolve a migraine. It would be tantamount to further punishing the victims for a crisis not of their choice.
The economy has been stagnant at 1% for more than a decade. Initial growth projections of an already weak 1.4% have been reduced by the International Monetary Fund to a depressing 1%, far below the 3% plus needed to tackle our single greatest national crisis, our 43.7% unemployment rate.
A repo rate will further suffocate an economy on its knees.
Inflation at 4% remains within the Reserve Bank’s target range. Prior to the war in the Middle East it had been continuously falling. Once the war ends and international oil and gas supplies resume to full capacity, domestic fuel prices and thus inflation will fall.
It is critical that Treasury extend fuel levy relief for the duration of the War and until fuel prices revert to their pre-war levels. This relief has provided valuable comfort, albeit however limited, to commuters and the economy.
It has helped contain inflation.
The Reserve Bank must resist any knee jerk, textbook temptation to raise the repo rate. This would be a devastating blow to workers, consumers, businesses and the economy, when we can least afford it. It must exercise strategic patience, more so as peace negotiations to end the War take place.
The Reserve Bank must show solidarity with workers, the poor and the economy by rejecting any increase to the Repo Rate.
Issued by COSATU
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Conference of the Left Steering Committee Statement
25 May 2026
From 29 to 31 May 2026, South African organisations of the left will converge at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg for a national Conference of the Left, convened under the theme “Building a Left Movement for Working-Class and Popular Power”.
The established steering committee of the Conference of the Left is responsible for the overall coordination of all processes towards the conference and ensuring a successful conference. The conference preparatory process began around February 2026, while the idea of the conference itself was conceived among various organisations of the left at least six years ago as part of a shared discourse aiming to build strategic coherence of progressives as we pursue the vision of transformation and change.
The Conference of the Left seeks to unite the forces of the left in constructing and crystallising a shared campaign-based programme that advances the objectives of the total liberation of the oppressed, the emancipation of the working class, the transformation of our society and the reversal of neoliberal policies that have rolled back our national progress. The conference seeks to develop a concrete campaign framework shared by organisations of the left, with the objective of deepening the unity of the working class, revitalising its activism and articulating a unifying medium-term agenda based on the objective demands of the working class.
The conference is not an attempt to undo the existing organisations of the left nor undermine their work; it seeks, rather, to create a framework to coordinate, elevate and strengthen their work through a common platform and common programme. The conference serves as a forum for equals within the left, founded on mutual respect and an understanding of the diverse and varied nature of the terrain of struggle where the working class pursues its struggles. The diversity of terrain of struggle strengthens the capacity of the working-class forces and creates an effective division of labour.
From struggles on the shop floor where workers fight for a living wage in deteriorating working conditions to those in communities where the working class claims concrete power in decision-making as part of the agenda for the transfer of power and democratisation of society from below, the working class will utilise the conference to organise itself, unite and consolidate its programme. The conference does not seek to create new political parties out of it as suggested by a few of its critics.
The conference will be composed of left political formations, trade unions and their respective federations, social and community organisations, youth and student formations, environmental justice organisations, research and education organisations, solidarity economy organisations, left-leaning and progressive legacy organisations, international working-class and socialist organisations, public intellectuals and individuals aligned to the left.
The three-day conference programme will consist of plenary speeches and response sessions, conference commissions, plenary presentations, debate exchanges and the adoption of a shared resolution that will be the basis of a forward-looking programme of action.
The work of the steering committee has been made public for the benefit of the working class, progressives and all in society who share an interest in its work.
The registration of interested organisations and individuals is still possible until Monday 25 May.
The following forms of organisations have registered for the Conference of the Left:
· 14 political parties
· 14 trade unions
· 3 trade union federations
· 20 social and community organisations
· 4 organisations in the solidarity economy sector
· 5 legacy organisations
· 11 international solidarity organisations
Other organisations have also registered.
The work of the conference is available for viewing, contributions and further registration on our website: www.leftconferencesa.co.za.
The steering committee of the conference will hold a pre-conference media briefing on Thursday, 28 May as well as the post-conference press briefing on Sunday, 31 May.
ISSUED BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE LEFT
Mbulelo Mandlana, Head of Media, Communications and Information
+27(0) 81 556 1903
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Minister Meth corrects misinformation regarding UIF Online Claims platform
25 May 2026
The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, wishes to correct recent public statements and unverified commentary regarding the online claims platform of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
On 1 April 2025 the UIF launched a new online platform, known as UIF Online, to replace the legacy uFiling employee claims portal. The new platform simplifies and accelerates claims processing by enabling direct client submissions, real-time claim tracking and automated communication throughout the claim lifecycle. Furthermore, it supports a selfservice model, eliminating the need for third-party agents to assist clients with the submission of claims.
The implementation of UIF Online has yielded positive results. By April 2026, the Fund had successfully processed and paid 4,558,971 claims, reflecting increased access to UIF services and growing utilisation of digital channels by workers.
In comparison, during the same review period, the Fund processed and paid 4,099,522 claims in 2023 and 3,547,006 claims in 2024 under the legacy uFiling system. These figures demonstrate the effectiveness of the new platform in improving access to benefits and enhancing service delivery.
To raise awareness of UIF Online, the Fund implemented a comprehensive communication and stakeholder engagement programme across multiple platforms and channels. This included awareness campaigns through various media platforms, guidance and support at Labour Centres nationwide, engagements with key stakeholders in all provinces, and the deployment of call centre agents to assist and direct clients to the new platform.
It is important to clarify that the legacy uFiling platform consists of two separate components: the employee claims portal and the employer portal. The employee claims portal was officially closed on 20 May 2026 following the successful resolution of legal and contractual disputes associated with the legacy platform, as well as the completion of the required handover process. These legal disputes had previously prevented the UIF from decommissioning the employee claims portal.
With the closing of the employee claims portal we wish to assure clients that no applications were lost. Applications that were submitted on the uFiling platform have been stored in a separate database from where they are being analysed, verified against system controls and migrated into the new online platform.
The employer portal remains fully operational and continues to provide services relating to employer registration, declarations and contributions. These functions are scheduled to be migrated to UIF Online by August 2026, bringing to a close the transition from the legacy uFiling platform.
Minister Meth has cautioned against the dissemination of misinformation and unverified claims that have the potential to create unnecessary uncertainty and anxiety among workers and beneficiaries who rely on the services of the UIF.
Minister Meth said: “As public representatives, we have a responsibility to ensure that the information we share with the public is accurate, factual and in the interests of nation building. While constructive scrutiny is welcomed, the spread of misinformation and unverified claims can undermine public confidence and cause unnecessary panic."
Ends.
Media enquiries:
Ms Thobeka Magcai
Ministry Spokesperson
Email: Thobeka...@labour.gov.za
Mobile: 072 737 2205
Issued by: Ministry of Employment and Labour
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Government’s response to rating action of Moody’s Investors Service
22 May 2026
Government welcomes Moody’s decision to revise South Africa’s sovereign credit rating outlook to positive from stable and affirm the domestic and foreign-currency long-term ratings at ‘Ba2’.
This makes South Africa the only G20 nation currently on a positive outlook from Moody's. It comes at a time of negative ratings momentum globally, with over 23 sovereigns' credit ratings negatively impacted since the start of the current Middle East conflict.
Moody’s said its decision reflected South Africa’s gradually strengthening fiscal performance and sustained commitment to structural reforms, with prospects of increasingly tangible results. The agency expects a rising primary surplus and gradually improving debt-service costs to stabilise the government debt burden in the near term. It said while the Middle East conflict posed a risk to South Africa’s near-term growth outlook, it anticipates the policy response will remain measured and macroeconomic stability preserved.
The agency expects stronger investment, supported by ongoing reforms, to raise real GDP growth gradually to around 2 percent by 2028 and underpin fiscal improvements. It expects the primary fiscal surplus to rise to around 2% in 2028, supporting a gradual decline in the debt to GDP ratio.
The upgrade to a positive outlook is the first by Moody’s since 2007 (which was followed by an upgrade of the rating itself in 2009). It comes after S&P Global Ratings upgraded South Africa’s rating by one notch in November 2025 and retained its positive outlook.
Government
remains firmly committed to reducing the public debt while maintaining social spending and accelerating structural reforms to support inclusive growth and job creation.
The Director General of the National Treasury Duncan Pieterse said: “The latest decision by Moody’s is further confirmation of South Africa’s improving fiscal credibility due to a turnaround in the sustainability of public finances.”
“We continue to focus on our two fiscal objectives of ensuring that revenue continues to be ever higher than non-interest spending and maintaining a debt to GDP ratio that comes down from the current year onwards. We plan to embed the fiscal turnaround with the introduction of a fiscal anchor for South Africa.”
For enquiries email me...@treasury.gov.za
Issued by National Treasury
International-Solidarity
SADC Ministers Of Foreign Affairs Retreat- Skukuza Outcome Statement
25 May 2026
1. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Foreign Affairs
convened a Retreat from 22 to 24 May 2026 in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, Republic of South Africa, pursuant to the decision of the Council of Ministers at its last meeting in March 2026 held in South Africa, to assess the impact of evolving
global geopolitical developments in the SADC region.
2. Ministers underscored the impact of intensifying geopolitical rivalry, including the current Middle-East conflict, climate-related pressures, and disruptions to global trade, energy, tourism, and financial systems, and noted that these factors are driving
higher food and fuel prices, exchange-rate volatility, and increasing risks to food and energy security across Member States.
3. Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to collective action aimed at strengthening resilience, deepening regional integration, and advancing sustainable development across the Member States, and further committed to enhancing policy coherence, strengthening
regional institutions, and advancing coordinated diplomacy to ensure a coherent regional voice in global engagements.
The Retreat deliberated on five thematic areas, namely Financing Regional Integration, Investment, Public Debt Management and Domestic Revenue Mobilisation, Industrialisation, Value Chains and Trade; Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics and the Free Movement
of People, Goods and Services; Energy, Oil and Gas and Mineral Resources; and Agriculture, Agricultural Inputs, Supply Chains, Markets and Food Security, and identified the following priority measures for collective action.
4. Ministers reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening regional solidarity, enhancing policy coherence, strengthening regional institutions, and deepening cooperation in order to build a more resilient, self-sustaining, and competitive SADC region,
and agreed that the outcomes of the Retreat should serve as a practical roadmap for accelerated implementation, enhanced accountability, and strengthened regional coordination.
5. The Retreat concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing the SADC Vision 2050, which envisions a Common Future within a regional community that ensures economic well-being, improved standards of living and quality of life, freedom, social justice, and
peace and security for the people of Southern Africa. Issued on 24 May 2026, Skukuza, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, Republic of South Africa.
Issued by Department of International Relations and Cooperation
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South African Communist Party Statement on indictment of Raul Castro by US department of justice
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 25 May 2026
The South African Communist Party (SACP) has noted with grave concern the US government’s decision through its department of justice to indict Comrade Raul Castro on flimsy and baseless charges related to a plane incident that occurred 30 years ago. Besides the fact that the US government has no legal jurisdiction by any measure to institute legal proceedings against a citizen of another country, let alone a former head of state, the US government most importantly does not have the moral authority to act against Raul Castro.
This indictment was certainly predicted, given the earlier news reports indicating the intention of the US to pursue this course of action, however, that fact does not make this act any less repulsive. As we stated in our previous statement on the matter, this particular course of action by the US government has no basis in law; it is only an opportunistic weaponisation of the law and the very idea of law and justice to pursue an imperialist political agenda. In the context of this agenda, the US seeks to purchase for itself a status of a lawful actor and a moral cloak of law and justice to dress up its violent imperialist agenda to exterminate the Cuban state and the Cuban revolution as we know it, to subjugate the people of Cuba to its will.
Against the backdrop of a Trump regime determined to destroy the whole of South America to preserve the hegemonic interests of the US regime, the Cuban people and the Venezuelan people stand as the prime example of resistance and revolution against imperialism. The abduction of President Maduro and the indictment of Commander Raul Castro are indications of an imperialist plot to overthrow the Bolivarian Revolution and delegitimise the cause of socialism in the Americas and across the world. The US empire is evidently on an irreversible recession path and has thus resorted to violent and illegal measures to sustain itself in an era where its leaders have lost the moral authority to claim leadership in international relations.
The Trump administration’s repeated attempts to reassert the Monroe Doctrine reflect not the revival of US hegemony in its historic sphere of influence but rather the emergence of a resistance movement against it. The emergence of a multipolar world is as irreversible as the collapse of US hegemony. The desperation and violent path of US imperialism are indicators of change in the international balance of power. At this point, the progressive forces in the world objectively stand at the precipice of a radical advance against imperialism. The working-class solidarity movement is the driving force of change. Our solidarity with Cuba stands unshaken.
We condemn in no uncertain terms the indictment of Comrade Raul. We call for action against US imperialist intervention from all peace-loving people across the world.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
______________________________
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