Taking COSATU Today Forward, 16 January 2026 #CosatuRedFridays #Back2SchoolCampaign #Right2LearnCampaign
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY Today, it’s #CosatuRedFridays….. #COSATU launches #Back2School and #Right2Learn Campaigns across all provinces #Cosatu40 #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
16 January 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SADTU Free State congratulates the Matric Class of 2025 in the province
- South Africa
- COSATU strongly welcomes Minister Creecy's call for a total ban on drinking and driving
- COSATU is deeply worried by the explosion in illicit tobacco and the possible loss of 230 jobs
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- IndustriALL and ENI strengthen global labour commitments
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
SADTU Free State congratulates the Matric Class of 2025 in the province
Mokholoane Moloi, SADTU Free State Provincial Secretary, 15 January 2026
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in the Free State congratulates the Free State matric class of 2025 for their sterling performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
The province achieved an overall pass rate of 89.33%, which reflects a slight decline from the 91% obtained in 2024. Despite this marginal drop, the performance remains commendable, as educators have done their utmost best under difficult conditions, including budget cuts.
We commend all our members and educators in general, learners, parents, officials, and various stakeholders for their immeasurable contribution under the leadership of the MEC for Education, Dr Mamiki Maboya, and the Head of Department, Advocate Tsoarelo Malakoane. Without the collaboration among these key stakeholders, this performance would not have been achieved.
We note that all districts, except Mangaung Metropolitan Education District, have gone below the 90% pass rate achieved in 2024. This requires urgent attention so that the necessary support and interventions can be provided as early as possible, enabling the Department to surpass the record target of 91% set in 2024.
It is unfortunate that some have adopted a populist stance by calling for action against the MEC for Education due to the decline, despite never having congratulated or positively commented on the results during the eight years in which the Free State achieved the top position nationally. As SADTU, we believe there is no need for panic at this level. Instead, stakeholders should join hands to analyse the situation with the intention of addressing existing weaknesses.
As SADTU, we will engage both the MEC for Education and the Head of Department to raise issues that we believe have contributed to this performance, as we firmly believe in dialogue as a means to arrive at sustainable solutions.
We call on all learners who did not make it to take advantage of the Second Chance Programmes provided by the Department of Education. They should draw wisdom from the words of Nelson Mandela: “Success is often not judged by constant winning, but by how many times you fall and get back up.” This emphasises the importance of resilience, perseverance, and learning from failures and mistakes.
ISSUED BY: Provincial Secretariat
COSATU strongly welcomes Minister Creecy's call for a total ban on drinking and driving
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 15 January 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) strongly welcomes the Minister for Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy’s timely call to amend the National Traffic Act to institute a total ban on drinking and driving. This is a badly needed intervention to reduce our unacceptably high levels of drinking and driving, and the completely avoidable resulting loss of life.
More than 14 000 drivers, passengers and pedestrians die in road accidents every year in South Africa. Over 40% of these are linked to the consumption of alcohol. This tragic loss of life robs families of loved ones and the economy of workers. Those who survive are often not able to work for long periods as they recover or in many cases, never work again. This plunges their dependents into absolute poverty with the loss of a breadwinner. It bleeds the fiscus of scarce resources with preventable healthcare costs.
COSATU wholeheartedly supported the recent National Traffic Amendment Bill at Nedlac and Parliament which had proposed to amend Section 65 and put in place a complete ban on drinking and driving. This progressive and sober proposed legislative amendment by the National Department of Transport was backed by overwhelming scientific evidence confirming that drinking has a serious impact on drivers and pedestrians’ ability to drive, cycle or walk safely.
It is unfortunate and to the 6th Parliament’s shame that it rejected the proposed and badly needed total ban on drinking and driving. We are heartened and encouraged by Minister Creecy’s bold leadership and call. COSATU will fully support it and petition Parliament to move with speed on such an Amendment Bill. We urge Minister Creecy to urgently table such an Amendment Bill at Parliament.
South Africa’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol is a major factor in our painful levels of road carnage. There is a place for responsible consumption of alcohol within society. Many jobs from our wine farms to our restaurants are linked to our alcohol industry. A common sense and progressive balance needs to be found. Introducing a total ban on drinking and driving, including pedestrians, is an urgent necessity.
Such a legislative amendment must be accompanied by the African National Congress led government ensuring that law enforcement, in particular our traffic and police officers, have the necessary resources to ensure full compliance with our entire traffic legislative framework.
South Africa has for far too long tolerated a blatant disregard to the rule of law and what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in a modern democracy. A total ban on drinking and driving will be a welcome step forward in this journey towards creating a better South Africa.
Issued by COSATU
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COSATU is deeply worried by the explosion in illicit tobacco and the possible loss of 230 jobs
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 15 January 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is deeply worried by the explosion in illicit tobacco, now estimated to be 75% of total sales, and the possible loss of 230 jobs with British American Tobacco (BATSA)’s proposed closure of its factory in Heidelberg. These alarm bells should concern all South Africans.
We cannot afford to lose more jobs with an already dangerously high unemployment rate of 42.4%. We urge BATSA to engage labour and find alternative options besides sending workers to the unemployment queue.
The sale of illicit tobacco has been rising at exponential rates over the past few years, in particular since COVID-19’s temporary ban on sales. This rise has been fueled by illegal tobacco sales circumventing tax requirements and being sold on average at 25% of the price of legal products.
The massive growth in illicit tobacco threatens the jobs of workers at tobacco companies who abide by their legal requirements, including the sin tax regime. Cheaper tobacco will make smoking more affordable and attractive to smokers, in particular young people. The avoidance of the sin tax regime will fuel a rise in smoking and rob the state of money needed to fund public healthcare, including to treat patients with lung cancer caused by smoking.
COSATU, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), health organisations and legally compliant traders have long been raising the alarm with Parliament and government about this dangerous crisis and the threats it poses to society, workers, businesses and the state.
Key interventions need to include Parliament, led by the African National Congress, expediting the passage of the progressive and bold Tobacco and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill as well as strengthening it to require 24/7 monitoring of all tobacco company premises, including their warehouses, and the tracking and tracing of all tobacco related products.
SARS and the South African Police Service (SAPS) need to be given the necessary tools, including skilled personnel, to ramp up their efforts to crack down on illegal imports and sales. This needs to include door-to-door inspections of all tobacco-related product sellers’ premises, the arrest and prosecution of those found to be involved in illegal sales and the confiscation and destruction of illegal products.
For this war against the illicit tobacco trade to be won, there must also be a close partnership between SARS, SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority and the State Security Agency, legally compliant tobacco businesses and farmers, as well as labour.
This is a war that we cannot afford to lose.
Issued by COSATU
International-Solidarity
IndustriALL and ENI strengthen global labour commitments
15 January, 2026
IndustriALL Global Union has renewed the global framework agreement with Italian energy company ENI, updating and strengthening the previous one signed in 2019. This new agreement marks the continuation of more than two decades of social dialogue and global cooperation between the Italian energy company and the international trade union movement.
The negotiation process lasted two years and involved active participation by trade unions across multiple countries and sectors in which ENI operates. It stands as a clear example that global bargaining and transnational cooperation continue to be effective tools for protecting workers in a rapidly changing world.
At the signing ceremony held in Milan on 13 January, representatives of ENI’s global management, Italian trade unions, and an international delegation from IndustriALL underscored the significance of the agreement as a living instrument for social dialogue and the protection of labour rights throughout the company’s global value chain.
All of the members of the global committee gave concrete examples where they had used the GFA to achieve important wins for their members.
The renewed agreement includes several key improvements over the previous version:
Integration of ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work, a crucial step forward in protecting all workers from physical and psychological violence in the workplace.
Strengthened commitment to human rights due diligence: Despite regulatory setbacks at European level, ENI reaffirms its willingness to implement robust human rights due diligence policies across its entire supply chain, in collaboration with trade unions.
Explicit recognition of social dialogue as a vital tool to accompany the company’s transformation processes, particularly those linked to the energy transition and organizational restructuring.
A people-centred approach to the energy transition: the agreement acknowledges the need for a Just Transition for workers, based on training, inclusion, and the creation of sustainable jobs.
One of the most important aspects highlighted by the unions is the shared commitment to maintaining the agreement as a living,
evolving instrument capable of responding to the major challenges of today and tomorrow: decarbonization, digitalization and increasingly complex supply chains. In a global context marked by geopolitical uncertainty and growing pressure on labour rights, this
type of agreement demonstrates that ambitious and responsible cooperation remains possible.
The renewed GFA reinforces the monitoring tools and institutionalized dialogue mechanisms between the company and the global trade union movement. The agreement maintains and strengthens the annual review process, creating a space for joint assessment, transparency,
and accountability.
“This renewed agreement is not just symbolic, it’s a real commitment to fundamental labour rights, corporate responsibility and a Just Transition. The fact that a company like ENI is reinforcing its due diligence practices in today’s global context and integrating ILO Convention 190 sends a strong signal of leadership. But beyond the text, what really matters is implementation: it’s time to work together to make these commitments a reality everywhere ENI operates,” says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.
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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