Taking COSATU Today Forward, 24 July 2026 #GreenIndustrialisation
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY COSATU Call Center Contacts: 010 002 2590 #Cosatu Green Industrialisation National Policy Workshop is underway in Johannesburg… #GreenRevolution #GreenJobs #NationaActionAgainstCostOfLiving Campaign continues… #ClassWar #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
24 July 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- Employment and Labour achieves 100% performance on 2025/26 Annual Performance
- Employment and Labour engages Chinese employers to shape compliance with employment and labour laws
- South Africa
- COSATU relieved Reserve Bank has held the repo rate steady
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Zimbabwe: Supreme Court reinstates 135 sacked Waverley Blankets workers
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
Employment
and Labour achieves 100% performance on 2025/26 Annual Performance
23
Jul 2026
Minister's
in-year monitoring reveals outstanding gains as Public Employment Services achieves 100% performance
According to the Department's 2025/26 Annual Performance Report presented during the Minister's In-Year Monitoring meeting, Public Employment Services, Inspection and Enforcement Services, and Labour Policy and Industrial Relations each achieved 100% of their
annual performance targets, while the Department attained an overall performance level of 86%
Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, has commended provincial offices and officials of the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) for delivering exceptional results across key employment and labour market programmes during the 2025/26 financial
year.
The commendation follows the presentation of the Department's Annual Performance Report during the Minister's In-Year Monitoring (IYM) Meeting held on 23 July 2026, where the Department reported an overall performance achievement of 86%, with 24 out of 28 annual
targets achieved. Three core programmes, Public Employment Services (PES), Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES), and Labour Policy and Industrial Relations (LP&IR), each achieved a perfect 100% performance score.
A major highlight of the report was the outstanding performance of the Public Employment Services (PES) Branch, which improved from 83% in 2024/25 to 100% achievement in 2025/26, successfully attaining all eight of its annual targets.
Through the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) system, the Department registered 1 129 464 work-seekers, exceeding the target of one million registrations and achieving 113% of the target. Every province exceeded its registration target, with Free State
achieving 147%, Mpumalanga 127%, Limpopo 119%, Eastern Cape 115%, Northern Cape 114%, North West 112%, Gauteng 111%, KwaZulu-Natal 108%, and Western Cape 103%.
The Department also recorded exceptional results in the registration of employment opportunities on ESSA. Against a target of 120 000 opportunities, a total of 268 210 employment opportunities were registered nationally, translating to an impressive 224% achievement
rate. Gauteng led with 307% achievement, followed by Free State (279%), North West (262%), Limpopo (248%) and Northern Cape (239%).
These opportunities translated into real employment outcomes, with 116 044 work-seekers successfully placed into employment opportunities, surpassing the target of 70 000
placements and achieving 166% of target. Limpopo achieved 234%, Gauteng 220%, Free State 183%, Northern Cape 172%, Mpumalanga 155%, and North West 155%.
The Department further provided 357 843 registered work-seekers with employment counselling services, representing 133% achievement against target, while also conducting 11 job and career fairs, exceeding the planned nine events.
Minister Meth said; "The performance reported during our Minister's In-Year Monitoring process demonstrates that the Department of Employment and Labour is making a meaningful impact in the lives of South Africans. Through the Employment Services of South Africa
platform, we have surpassed all our targets for work-seeker registrations, employment opportunities and job placements. The fact that every province exceeded its registration targets, while provinces such as Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo and North West recorded
exceptional achievements in employment opportunities, confirms that our interventions are yielding positive results."
"I wish to congratulate all provincial offices, labour centres and officials who have worked tirelessly to ensure that unemployed South Africans are connected to opportunities. These achievements bring us closer to our vision of creating pathways into employment,
supporting inclusive economic growth and restoring hope to millions of job-seekers."
Minister Meth also applauded the performance of the Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) Branch, which achieved all four of its annual targets. During the reporting period, the branch conducted 309 659 workplace inspections, exceeding the target of 298
104 inspections. In addition, 99% of non-compliant employers were served with notices within the prescribed 14 days, while 85% of referred cases were settled or referred for prosecution within 30 working days, significantly exceeding the target of 65%.
The branch also conducted 26 high-impact blitz inspection campaigns across sectors such as construction, hospitality, wholesale and retail, contributing to improved compliance with labour legislation and strengthening worker protections.
The Minister further welcomed the performance of the Labour Policy and Industrial Relations (LP&IR) Branch, which achieved 100% of its annual targets. Notable achievements included the successful review and publication of the National Minimum Wage, publication
of Employment Equity reports and public registers, production of labour market research reports, and the processing of 100% of labour organisation registration applications within prescribed timelines.
Minister Meth encouraged the Department to continue with its commitment to building on these achievements throughout and intensifying efforts to create employment opportunities, protect workers' rights and improve labour market outcomes across South Africa.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ teboho....@labour.gov.za
Website: www.labour.gov.za
Issued by Department of Employment and Labour
_______________________
Employment
and Labour engages Chinese employers to shape compliance with employment and labour laws
23 Jul 2026
Department of Employment and Labour Inspection and Enforcement Services to engage Chinese employers to shape compliance with employment and labour laws
The Department of Employment and Labour’s Inspections and Enforcement Services (IES) branch regularly engages stakeholders to shape awareness and compliance with South Africa’s employment and labour legislation.
As part of this contact the department will host another in a series of advocacy session for the Chinese Business Community. The engagement will be held in Cape Town at the Lagoon Beach Hotel in Milnerton on 04th August 2026.
The objectives of the Advocacy Session are to raise awareness about compliance to employment and labour legislation as well as immigration legislation.
The engagement is designed to thrash out some of the issues experienced by workers and employers within Chinese Businesses, and these relate to:
Low wages and non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage;
Absence of written contracts and unfair dismissal;
Long working hours without overtime pay;
Lack of paid sick leave and annual leave;
Poor working and sanitation facilities;
Lack of protective equipment and health and safety measures;
Workplace injuries with no access to compensation;
Unemployment Insurance benefits;
Exploitation of foreign nationals and undocumented workers;
Sexual harassment and gender-based violence; and
Victimization of workers who report violations.
The expected outcomes of the Chinese Business Advocacy Session are:
Increased awareness and understanding of employment and labour legislation;
Formalisation of unregistered workers into Unemployment Insurance Fund and Compensation Fund systems;
Stronger multi-departmental coordination for compliance with South African Laws;
Immediate response to worker grievances and labour complaints;
Strengthened trust in government institutions;
Improved compliance rates among Chinese Business Employers; and
Nonemployment of undocumented labour migrants.
Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, the Honourable Jomo Sibiya, MP as well as the Ambassador of the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China in South Africa, His Excellency Wu Peng having been leading the partnership.
The department has previously had advocacy in Newcastle and Johannesburg with Chinese businesses.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ teboho....@labour.gov.za
Issued by Department of Employment and Labour
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
COSATU relieved Reserve Bank has held the repo rate steady
Zanele Sabela, COSATU Spokesperson, 23 July 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is relieved the South African Reserve Bank has held the repo rate steady at 7%.
This is despite Statistics SA’s announcement yesterday that inflation had increased to 5% in June - the highest since June 2024 when it was 5.1%. The spike in inflation was attributed to rising fuel prices and electricity tariffs.
In the last 12 months, fuel has shot up by an average 34% mainly due to the war in the Middle East. Transport costs have also gone up as a result. Stats SA pegged transport inflation at 13%, while electricity tariffs have increased by 10%.
An increase in the repo rate would have seen workers sink deeper into debt. A Debt Busters survey revealed that 53% of respondents spend more than 40% of their take home on debt repayments. Devastatingly, when money runs out before the end of the month, they are forced to borrow to make ends meet, drawing them further into debt. Even more heartbreaking, they are borrowing to buy basics such as food, electricity and pay for transport.
The rate hike would have resulted in home, car and credit loan repayments escalating, putting struggling working- and middle-class households under even more financial pressure. In an economy that hasn’t grown beyond 1% in more than a decade, with an alarming unemployment rate of 43.7%, those who are fortunate to have jobs support on average seven relatives on one salary.
COSATU recently marched to the Reserve Bank to highlight the plight of workers battling the ever-escalating cost of living. Among the demands included in the memorandum to the SARB were the following:
- Reduction in electricity and water prices
- Lower fuel and food prices
- End to austerity and extension of the social wage
- Reserve Bank must halt repo rate increase
The Federation is pleased the SARB has heeded our call to halt repo rate hikes, thereby providing relief to a society already drowning in debt. This will help workers take care of their families in a very difficult economic climate.
It is critical that as inflation falls as projected in the latter half of the year, the Reserve Bank begin to lower the repo rate and thus providing badly needed breathing space for workers and helping to stimulate economic growth.
Issued by COSATU
Internationalism-Solidarity
Zimbabwe: Supreme Court reinstates 135 sacked Waverley Blankets workers
23 July, 2026
On 13 July 2026, Zimbabwean textile workers won a major Supreme Court victory after Waverley Blankets dismissed 135 workers for refusing to give up their
permanent contracts.
In December 2023, the Harare-based blanket and bedding manufacturing company told workers to sign fixed-term contracts or face termination. The workers rejected the move, arguing that it violated Zimbabwe’s Labour Act and stripped them of hard-won job security.
With support from the Zimbabwe Textile Workers Union (ZTWU), an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, the workers challenged the Waverley Blankets dismissals through arbitration and the courts. After setbacks, the union won the case on appeal at the Supreme
Court.
Matika, Gwisai and Partners, the union’s lawyers, argued that an employer cannot use a waiver to take away workers’ rights and that any termination of employment must comply with Zimbabwean labour laws. They also argued that the workers never agreed to have
their permanent contracts replaced with fixed-term contracts.
The court challenge was supported by IndustriALL.
Waverley Blankets dismissals pushed workers into hardship
For Emmanuel Chadiwa, the Waverley union chairperson who had worked at the company as a mechanic since 2010, the dismissal pushed his family into crisis.
“I last reported for work on 15 January 2024, when security guards told us not to enter the company gate. We returned the next day hoping the company would allow us back, but nothing changed. That is when we realised our fight for justice would take a long
time,”
said Chadiwa.
“Life became very difficult. I had children in school and no money for exam and school fees. I survived by doing piece jobs offloading trucks, sometimes earning only US$10 a week, a fraction of the US$340 I earned monthly on the shop floor. It was painful.”
“As a worker with a disability, losing my job changed my life for the worse. I was pushed into poverty and uncertainty, surviving on small piece jobs and living off the streets,”
said Matthew Ngwaru, former union vice chairperson at Waverley who has been with the company since 2009.
Supreme Court victory restores workers’ income and dignity
Munyaradzi Jaricha, who worked as an internal security officer, said:
“Winning this case means justice has been done after the unfair dismissal we suffered. For over a year, we struggled with no income, but this victory gives us hope and proves that workers’ rights can be protected when workers stand together with their union.”
“Since 16 December 2023, I have been doing odd jobs and vending to feed my family. Without a stable salary, it has been difficult to pay rent and meet basic needs.”
“The dismissal affected my family badly. We struggled to put food on the table daily. This victory brings relief because it means we may get our jobs back and provide for our families again.”
Norman Makono, ZTWU general secretary, said the Supreme Court ruling was a victory for justice and workers’ rights:
“Workers are celebrating this court victory while waiting for Waverley to inform them of the return-to-work date.”
Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary, said:
“This is a powerful reminder that employers cannot simply dismiss workers with impunity. We applaud ZTWU for standing firm in defending workers’ rights. It is however scandalous that the fees for bringing a case to the Supreme Court are so high that it is almost
impossible for unions to do so.”
______________________________
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