Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 5 August 2026 #CosatuCongress2026
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
5 August 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SACTWU Statement on Constitutional Court Decision
- South Africa
- NSFAS Administrator submits stabilisation plan to restore governance, operations and public confidence
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- PAME: Cuba Is Not Alone! New Solidarity from PAME delivered to the Heroic People of Cuba!
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
SACTWU
Statement on Constitutional Court Decision
Etienne Vlok, SACTWU National Industrial Policy Officer, 5 August 2026
The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) notes the recent media reports and public commentary concerning the long-running litigation involving SACTWU Investments Group (SIG) and entities associated with the Sekunjalo group.
On 3 August 2026, the Constitutional Court considered an application for leave to appeal brought by Sekunjalo Independent Media (Pty) Ltd and Sekunjalo Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd against the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
The Constitutional Court refused the application with costs.
This follows the unanimous judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal delivered on 26 March 2026, which upheld SIG’s claim and overturned the earlier High Court decision.
SACTWU welcomes the finality brought about by the Constitutional Court’s decision.
For SACTWU, this matter has never been about personalities, media battles or competing public narratives. It has always been about protecting assets belonging to a worker-controlled investment vehicle and ensuring proper accountability for substantial sums
invested on behalf of working people.
The courts have now spoken decisively:
The Supreme Court of Appeal carefully considered the facts and legal issues before it and delivered a detailed judgment in favour of SACTWU and SIG.
The Constitutional Court has now refused leave to appeal, thereby bringing the litigation to finality.
SACTWU therefore regards the legal issues which formed the subject matter of the litigation as settled.
While others may continue to advance alternative interpretations in the media, SACTWU believes it is appropriate to respect the final decisions of South Africa’s courts and the rule of law.
Contrary to suggestions that SACTWU has pursued unnecessary litigation, it is worth noting that the Constitutional Court proceedings arose from an application brought by the Sekunjalo parties, seeking to overturn the judgment of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
SACTWU’s role was to defend a judgment already obtained in its favour.
The union remains proud of the principled stance it adopted throughout these proceedings and of its commitment to safeguarding resources entrusted to it by workers.
It is also important to note that the objective of these proceedings has always been the recovery of monies owed to us.
Despite the passage of many years, SIG has been compelled to pursue legal remedies in order to enforce its rights and recover funds due to it. The amounts due, as confirmed by the courts, remain outstanding.
SACTWU and SIG will therefore continue to take all appropriate steps to give effect to the judgments of the courts and to pursue the recovery of monies due to us.
Having secured legal finality in this matter, SACTWU’s primary focus remains the defence of jobs, the advancement of workers’ rights, the provision of social support benefits, and attending to the organisational servicing needs of its members.
Issued by BONITA LOUBSER - SACTWU GENERAL SECRETARY
For enquiries contact:
ETIENNE VLOK - SACTWU NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL POLICY OFFICER
082 448 0506
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
NSFAS
Administrator submits stabilisation plan to restore governance, operations and public confidence
04
Aug 2026
The
National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Administrator, Professor Hlengani Mathebula, has submitted the Administration’s Stabilisation Plan to the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Mr Buti Kgwaridi Manamela, for consideration. The submission
follows the requirements of the relevant Government Gazette, and was made yesterday in the presence of the two Deputy Ministers, the Director-General, Deputy Directors-General and ministerial advisors.
Prof. Mathebula explained that the Stabilisation Plan is a product of a collaborative effort between the Administration and management team, who have forged ties to produce this piece of work. The plan details a carefully considered catalogue of interventions
for an NSFAS which has been systemically hollowed out to the extent that its resources have been stripped of required robust institutional safeguards.
“Co-creation is the only path for my Administration, as our tenure is only for a specified period. This means that management and staff must have enough acumen to lead NSFAS post our time,” emphasised Mathebula.
Prof. Mathebula said the stabilisation approach will be practical, sequenced and evidence-based. It will distinguish between immediate containment actions, diagnostic work, remedial implementation, monitoring, escalation and the transition back to ordinary
governance
He said his Administration has therefore endeavoured to steer clear of analysis paralysis and focus on results-oriented actions, stating that NSFAS cannot afford to remain trapped in endless cycles of diagnosis. “Time for implementation is now.”
To this end, the Administration has created a governance structure, which is premised on workstreams, to drive execution throughout our organisation. These workstreams have been tasked with carrying out specific responsibilities to address key risks, implement
corrective measures and resolve critical operational challenges.
The administration’s top priorities include governance, audit and consequence management, ICT, data integrity and analytics, student support, appeals and fair access, TVET colleges, reconciliation, student accommodation and stakeholder confidence.
“This state of our organisation is parlous which has facilitated selfish interest to take root.
Therefore, my Administration’s decisive actions against the rot have provoked spirited opposition from those whose interest is being threatened. We have witnessed an emergence of media attacks which are fuelled by the so-called internal sources who are unfortunately
manipulating the sacred journalistic tradition to drive their own agendas of looting the resources earmarked for our children,” elaborated Prof. Mathebula.
President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa’s intervention via The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) was an apt acknowledgement of NSFAS’s governance failures.
Both Supply Chain safeguards and Internal Audit capacity have been significantly eroded.
NSFAS has 66 major audit findings with a disclaimer audit opinion from the Auditor-General and 115 overdue internal audit findings, respectively. Special Investigation Unit (SIU) findings are a matter of public record.
There are nine material irregularities: Deceased Funding, Income Threshold Breaches, Academic Progression Ignored, Duplicate Grant Payouts, Unresolved Appeals, Procurement and Tender Maladministration, Data Verification Breakdowns, Accommodation Contract Breaches,
Accommodation Contract Breaches and Weak Consequence Management.
ICT is NSFAS’s biggest operational risk. It is fragmented, manual and not fit for purpose. It holds everything up to peak frustration of students and partners, including institutions. The Administration is therefore prioritising data analytics measures that
directly improve funding accuracy, payment reliability, fraud prevention, audit readiness and student service outcomes.
“Student accommodation has also been identified as a high-risk area both operationally and reputationally. It requires tighter controls, clearer visibility, faster claims processing and stronger provider oversight,” expounded Mathebula.
Concluding his remarks, Prof. Mathebula said students deserve a financial aid scheme that not only meets but exceeds its stated mandate. He called on stakeholders to work with the Administration to rebuild NSFAS, strengthen accountability, and restore public
confidence in the institution.
Enquiries:
Anele Ntswayi
Media Liaison Officer
E-mail: me...@nsfas.org.za
Issued by National Student Financial Aid Scheme
Internationalism-Solidarity
PAME: Cuba Is Not Alone! New Solidarity from PAME delivered to the Heroic People of Cuba!
by WFTU HQ, 4 August 2026
Cuba Is Not Alone! New Solidarity from PAME delivered to the Heroic People of Cuba!
On Sunday, 2 August, PAME delivered to the CTC) solidarity collected by trade unions in Greece.
The moving response of the workers, who gave even out of what little they have, is a practical expression of class and internationalist solidarity with the Cuban people. It is an answer to the escalating aggression of American imperialism, which, through its
criminal blockade, is trying to bring a people to their knees because they insist on walking with their heads held high, defending the gains of their Revolution and their right to determine their own destiny.
This new expression of solidarity follows the one delivered last February, during the visit of a PAME delegation to Cuba. It proves that internationalist solidarity is not a gesture of the moment. It is a matter of principle, a class duty of the labour movement.
At a time when imperialist rivalries, wars and the interventions of the USA – NATO – EU are escalating, the solidarity of the peoples must grow stronger. Against the exploiters who want peoples frightened, subjugated and isolated for the sake of their profits
and their wars, we raise our own wall; rganization, common struggle, class and internationalist solidarity.
We continue with even greater determination! We demand an immediate end to the barbaric US blockade. We are strengthening our support for the Island of the Revolution by every means!
Hands off Cuba! Cuba is not alone!
______________________________
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