Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 2 October 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Cosatu40Anniversary celebration events are taking place in provinces…. #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary #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
2 October 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
Organize at every workplace and demand respect for labour rights Now!
Defend Jobs Now!
Join COSATU NOW!
Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- NEHAWU Gauteng to march to the Department of Health
- COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th anniversary
- South Africa
- NEHAWU Statement on 80th Anniversary of WFTU
- Minister Buti Manamela on the appointment of new accounting authorities for SETAs
- Eskom on Kusile Unit 6 unlocking full 9600MW capacity across Eskom’s flagship stations
- Minister Dion George on rural and coastal economies leading South Africa’s growth
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for immediate release of Global Sumud Flotilla abductees
- Join us in Sydney, Australia, for the IndustriALL 4th Congress, where trade union representatives from around the world will come together under the unifying theme: "Organizing for a Just Future."
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
NEHAWU Gauteng to march to the Department of Health
Mzikayise Tshontshi, NEHAWU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, October 02, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] in Gauteng will on Friday 03rd October convene a Provincial Day of Action directed to the Department of Health to deliver a memorandum of demands to the MEC of Health in relation to the crisis currently engulfing health in the province.
The Provincial Day of Action comes against the background of plethora of challenges that confront our members, workers and communities which include amongst others corruption, maladministration, dilapidated infrastructure, union bashing, vacant posts, occupation health and safety [OHS] issues, and insourcing of securities.
The SIU Report on Tembisa Hospital Investigation gives credence to the chronic failures by the department of health in addressing challenges confronting healthcare in the province.
Our members, workers and communities have for a long time had to endure miseries brought about by the department as a direct result of failures of the management to address and resolve the challenges confronting health in the province.
We have been clear that the situation of health in the province cannot remain the same. The outright disregard of our members’ and workers’ concerns clearly indicate that Department has no interest in resolving the challenges that are besieging health in the province.
As NEHAWU, we remain resolute in defence of our members, workers and communities as they fight for quality healthcare services in the province. We will continue to wage a relentless struggle to protect the interest of our members, workers and communities at all material times.
Details of the Provincial Day of Action:
Date: Friday October 03, 2025
Time: 09H00
Assembling Point: Ghandi Square to Gauteng Department of Health
Members of the media are invited to cover the Provincial Day of Action directed to the Department of Health.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Gauteng Secretariat
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COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th anniversary
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 25 September 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is set the host a series of lectures in the lead up to its 40th anniversary celebration at Dobsonville Stadium on 6 December.
The culmination of four years of unity talks, COSATU came into being on 1 December 1985, and brought together 33 competing unions and federations opposed to apartheid and whose common goal was to bring about a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
The Federation has been at the forefront of advancing, defending and protecting the interests and rights of workers since, and has led in the formation of the country’s progressive labour laws including workers’ rights to form trade unions, collective bargaining and to strike, minimum conditions of service, National Minimum Wage, etc.
From its vehement resistance of apartheid to the ushering in of the democratic dispensation and improving the economic and social wellbeing of the working class 31 years post democracy, COSATU has stood the test of time.
In the lead up to its 40th anniversary in December, the Federation will host a variety of activities starting with a series of lectures by its National Office Bearers.
The lectures will tackle diverse subjects from COSATU’s pivotal role in gender struggles to the strike that broke the back of industry-wide exploitative labour practices as far back as 1959.
Province:
Free State
Date:
3 October
Topic: COSATU and the International Struggle
Main Speaker: Gerald Twala, COSATU Deputy General Secretary
Province:
Mpumalanga
Date:
16 October
Venue: Ikhethelo Secondary School, Bethal
Topic: Gert Sibande Potato Boycott
Main Speaker: Duncan Luvuno, COSATU 2nd Deputy President
Province:
Northern Cape
Date:
30 October
Topic: COSATU and the Liberation Movement
Main Speaker: Solly Phetoe, COSATU General Secretary
Province:
North-West
Date:
19 November
Topic: Strengthening Industrial Unions to build a militant COSATU
Main Speaker: Duncan Luvuno, COSATU 2nd Deputy President
Province:
Eastern Cape
Date:
20 November
Topic: COSATU and the Reconfiguration of the Alliance
Main Speaker: Mike Shingange, COSATU 1st Deputy President
Province:
Gauteng
Date:
21 November
Topic: COSATU and the Mass Democratic Movement
Main Speaker: Zingiswa Losi, COSATU President
Issued by COSATU
NEHAWU Statement on 80th Anniversary of WFTU
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, October 02, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] joins millions of workers across the world in commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the class-oriented federation of trade unions, the World Federation of Trade Unions [the WFTU] and in marking the International Day of Action on the 3rd October 2025.
Founded in Paris on the 3rd October 1945, in the aftermath of the Second World War, the WFTU was born as the united voice of the world’s militant and fighting federation of class-oriented trade unions. At its first congress in Paris, representing 67 million workers from 55 countries, WFTU positioned itself as the vanguard of international class struggle, standing firmly on the side of workers and oppressed peoples everywhere.
Indeed, ever since its formation, WFTU has at all material times been rooted in struggles of the working people of the world following the line of a militant class-oriented trade union movement in defence of workers and the working-class from the barbaric system of capitalist exploitation and oppression.
WFTU has never wavered in its historic duty to defend the rights of the workers and the working class, to oppose capitalist exploitation and to struggle against imperialist domination. Unlike the reformist and reactionary international trade union federations that chose a path of compromise and collaboration, the WFTU has always taken a clear and militant stand. It has consistently aligned itself with the anti-colonial, anti-imperialist, and independence struggles of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, opposing all forms of oppression and exploitation.
As NEHAWU, we are indeed proud to be part of such a rich history and appreciating the significant role that WFTU has played in advancing the international working-class struggle. Throughout its existence, the WFTU has at all material times remained a vital force for international working-class solidarity and beacon of hope to the working people in particular and the working class as a whole.
Throughout its 80 years of existence, WFTU has always stood firmly against the imperialist wars and economic blockades waged by the United States and its allies. From the U.S. invasion of Korea, the invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs and the U.S. war on Vietnam, to the invasion of Afghanistan, the invasion and occupation of Iraq, to NATO’s continued eastward expansion and imperialist interventions.
Today, WFTU continues to raise its voice against the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, the illegal U.S. embargo imposed to Cuba, and the U.S. military threats and sanctions directed at Venezuela and other sovereign nations.
The WFTU does not stop at condemnation, through its affiliates it organizes actions, campaigns and solidarity initiatives that embody proletarian internationalism.
For South Africa, the WFTU has always been a faithful and unfailing ally. During Apartheid, WFTU gave unwavering solidarity to the people of South African. From the 1950s, WFTU stood side by side with the South African Congress of Trade Unions [SACTU], offering political, material, and organisational support to workers in the liberation struggle.
When SACTU was forced underground and in exile, WFTU ensured that the voice of South African workers was heard across the world. It mobilised the international working class to isolate the Apartheid regime, exposing the crimes of the Apartheid regime before the global community.
The WFTU’s solidarity extended beyond words. It hosted South African political exiles, led campaigns for boycotts and urged progressive unions worldwide to cut all economic, political and social ties with the Apartheid regime. This militant stand distinguished the WFTU from other international federations that chose silence or compromise in the face of Apartheid. Among the militants who carried this banner were Leslie Massina, Leon Levy, J.B. Marks, Billy Nair, Stephen Dlamini, John Nkadimeng, Ray Alexander, Moses Mabhida, Wilton Z. Mkwayi, Mark Shope, and Eric Stalin Mtshali.
When the democratic trade union movement re-emerged inside South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s, WFTU was again present. It played a role in supporting the processes that gave rise to the formation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions [COSATU] in 1985. Many of COSATU’s founding leaders were shaped by their participation in WFTU activities and international structures, and over the years COSATU leaders have held key leadership positions within the WFTU.
As NEHAWU, we will proudly participate in the Central Commemorative Event in Paris, the city where WFTU was established in 1945. On the 3rd October, we will affirm our presence at the commemorative event, joining our comrades in honouring this milestone in the history of the international trade union movement.
Alongside our participation in Paris, the union has organised demonstrations and events across provinces in the country to commemorate the WFTU 80th Anniversary and the International Day of Action:
In KwaZulu-Natal, NEHAWU will march to the Department of Health to protest against the privatisation of emergency medical services and to the Department of Labour to demand full compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
In Gauteng, NEHAWU will march to the Department of Health to broadcast the daily experiences of our members across provincial health facilities and to expose the systemic crisis in Gauteng’s public health system rooted in poor governance, under-resourcing, and infrastructural neglect.
In Limpopo, NEHAWU will hold a seminar on the history of the WFTU, promoting the historical record as documented by the WFTU Honorary President, Comrade George Mavrikos in the book History of the World George Mavrikos - Critical Notes on the History of the World Trade Union Movement: Issues of Tactics and Strategy.
Lastly, NEHAWU salutes the WFTU for its unwavering commitment to the principles of class struggle and international solidarity.
We reaffirm our loyalty to this great internationalist tradition and recommit ourselves to building a militant, class-oriented trade union movement capable of confronting the global offensive of capital and imperialism.
Long live the WFTU!
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
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Minister Buti Manamela on the appointment of new accounting authorities for SETAs
02 Oct 2025
I am pleased to announce that the Accounting Authorities (AAs) for all Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) have now been duly constituted and appointed, effective from 30 September 2025.
The appointment of the new AAs is a critical milestone in stabilising governance across the skills development sector and ensuring continuity in the execution of SETA mandates.
As their first order of business, all Accounting Authorities have already initiated processes to:
Recommend and appoint interim Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) to ensure that there is no leadership vacuum following the expiry of CEO contracts at the end of September 2025.
Commence the recruitment and selection process for permanent CEOs, in line with the provisions of the Skills Development Act and the SETA Standard Constitution.
The Department is also accelerating the process of appointing Chairpersons of the newly constituted Accounting Authorities. These appointments will be announced in due course.
The new governance cycle for SETAs provides an opportunity to strengthen accountability, improve performance, and align skills development more closely with the national priorities of job creation, industrialisation, the just energy transition, and inclusive economic growth.
I wish the newly appointed Accounting Authorities success in carrying out their responsibilities, and I assure them of the Department’s full support in delivering on the skills development mandate.
The newly appointed Accounting Authorities reflect a balanced demographic and professional profile. Across all SETAs there’s gender balance, strong representation of youth and historically disadvantaged groups.
Members also bring expertise spanning organised labour, business, community development, professional bodies, government, and higher education institutions. This ensures that the SETAs’ governance structures are not only inclusive but also grounded in the technical and sectoral knowledge required to advance South Africa’s skills revolution.
Enquiries:
Matshepo Seedat
Cell: 082 679 9473
Issued by Department of Higher Education and Training
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Eskom on Kusile Unit 6 unlocking full 9600MW capacity across Eskom’s flagship stations
30 Sep 2025
Eskom is pleased to confirm that Unit 6 at Kusile Power Station has officially entered commercial operation, marking the successful completion of Eskom’s Build Programme. This milestone is a key component of the Generation Recovery Plan and ends the construction of South Africa’s two supercritical coal-fired power stations—Medupi and Kusile.
Together, these stations form the backbone of the country’s baseload electricity supply. With Unit 6 now online, Kusile and Medupi can deliver a combined 9 600MW when operating at full capacity, significantly strengthening South Africa’s electricity supply.
Commercial operation indicates that the unit has passed all required testing and optimisation phases and is now fully integrated into Eskom’s operational fleet. Although the unit has been supplying electricity to the grid since its synchronisation on 23 March 2025, its contribution had not been reflected in official reporting until now. From this point onward, Unit 6’s output will be included in the Energy Availability Factor (EAF) calculations, contributing to Eskom’s overall performance metrics.
This achievement also marks a key milestone in Eskom’s strategic goal to add 2 500MW of new capacity to the grid by March 2025 and represents a major step in completing one of the largest infrastructure projects in South Africa’s history.
“The successful commissioning of Unit 6 adds 800MW to the grid and completes our twelve-unit Megaprojects fleet. We extend our gratitude to employees and contractors for their commitment and perseverance in delivering this milestone. Despite the many challenges along the way, the successful handover of Unit 6 reflects the team’s resilience and dedication. We look forward to the added stability these megawatts will bring,” said Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom Group Executive for Generation.
“Achieving commercial operation of Unit 6 within the planned timeframe is a testament to Eskom’s disciplined execution of the Generation Operational Recovery Plan. This milestone not only completes the Kusile build programme but also reinforces Eskom’s commitment to restoring energy security, enhancing grid stability, and investing in infrastructure that supports South Africa’s long-term economic growth. Since its synchronisation in March, Unit 6 has consistently met performance benchmarks, contributed to grid reliability, and helped meet electricity demand 97% of the time,” said Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane.
“Medupi and Kusile will remain central to South Africa’s electricity supply for many years to come. Both stations are designed for an operational lifespan of approximately 50 years. As we celebrate this milestone, we are also accelerating efforts to expand our renewable energy portfolio to complement our baseload infrastructure. This is part of our broader strategy to repower the grid and reduce overall emissions,” added Marokane.
Kusile Power Station is the first in South Africa—and on the African continent—to implement Wet Flue Gas Desulphurisation (WFGD) technology. This ensures compliance with air quality standards and aligns with global best practices to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions.
Eskom remains committed to executing its Generation Operational Recovery Plan, enhancing governance, and future-proofing the organisation to ensure energy security, economic growth, and long-term sustainability for South Africa and the broader sub-Saharan region.
Enquiries:
Eskom Media Desk
E-mail: medi...@eskom.co.za
Issued by Eskom
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Minister Dion George on rural and coastal economies leading South Africa’s growth
01 Nov 2025
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has underlined the importance of forestry and fisheries as engines of rural and coastal development that contribute directly to national growth.
“Forestry and fisheries are not small side industries. They are pillars of our economy, supporting families, creating work, and driving transformation in places often left out of the growth story,” Minister George said.
He explained that the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors grew strongly in late 2024 and early 2025, contributing significantly to national GDP at a time when other sectors were under pressure.
The Commercial Forestry Master Plan, adopted in 2019, is being implemented as a blueprint for inclusive growth. By transferring state plantations to communities, the Department is enabling transformation and building jobs in timber production and processing industries.
On the fisheries side, the Department has recognised approximately 10 000 small-scale fishers, organised into 171 cooperatives across four provinces. With support in co-management structures, abalone ranching, and mentorship, these cooperatives are accessing resources that improve incomes and resilience.
The Minister said that the Fishing for Freedom campaign is revitalising harbours as hubs of economic activity. These sites are being transformed to support fish processing, boat repair, tourism, and hospitality, ensuring that fishing towns become integrated centres of growth.
“Every cooperative supported and every harbour revitalised is proof that environmental stewardship is not in conflict with jobs. It is the foundation of jobs,” the Minister said.
He emphasised that forestry and fisheries show how green industries can spread prosperity to rural and coastal areas, while safeguarding resources for future generations.
“By planting trees, empowering cooperatives, and revitalising harbours, we are showing that rural and coastal economies are not waiting at the margins. They are leading South Africa’s growth story,” Minister George concluded.
Enquiries:
Thobile Zulu-Molobi
Cell: 082 513 7154
E-mail: tmo...@dffe.gov.za
Chelsey
Wilken
Cell: 074 470 5996
E-mail: cwi...@dffe.gov.za
Issued by Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment
International-Solidarity
President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for immediate release of Global Sumud Flotilla abductees
02 Oct 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on the Government of the State of Israel to release South Africans and other nationals
abducted as part of Israeli authorities’ interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The flotilla comprises humanitarian vessels seeking to deliver aid to Gaza.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the interception in international waters off the coast of Gaza reinforces Israel’s continued violation of international law and infliction of suffering, including starvation, on the Palestinian people.
South Africans who were on board the flotilla include Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, Zukwswa Wanner and Reaaz Moolla, while confirmation is pending on the abduction of Zaheera Soomar, Fatima Hendricks and Carrie Shelver.
President Ramaphosa said: “The interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla is another grave offence by Israel of global solidarity and sentiment that is aimed at relieving suffering in Gaza and advancing peace in the region.
“On behalf of our government and nation, I call on Israel to immediately release the South Africans abducted in international waters, and to release other nationals who have tried to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid.
“The interception of the flotilla in international waters is contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown on the dozens of vessels in the flotilla.
“This action also violates an International Court of Justice injunction that humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow unimpeded.
“South Africa calls on Israel to ensure that the life-saving cargo transported by this flotilla reaches the people of Gaza, as the flotilla represents solidarity with Gaza, not confrontation with Israel.
“South Africa supports the call by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for Israel to urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material through all means possible.
“My thoughts are with all of the abductees and their families and it is my expectation that Israel will release the human rights activists as these abductions serve no purpose in the context of efforts to secure peace in the Middle East.”
Media enquiries:
Vincent Magwenya
Spokesperson to the President
E-mail: me...@presidency.gov.za
Issued by The Presidency
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Join us in Sydney, Australia, for the IndustriALL 4th Congress, where trade union representatives from around the world will come together under the unifying theme: "Organizing for a Just Future."
IndustriALL Global Union is pleased to invite you to its 4th Congress, which will be held in Sydney, Australia, from 4-7 November 2025.
Under the slogan Organizing for a Just Future, the 4th Congress will bring together trade union representatives from around the world to discuss the future work of our global union to reinforce our collective commitment to democracy, peace and social justice.
The 4th Congress will serve as a platform to advance IndustriALL's Action Plan for the period of 2025-2029, which outlines the strategic objectives and activities aimed at promoting workers' rights, sustainable industrial policies and equitable economic growth. Key areas of focus include ending precarious work, fighting for a just transition to sustainable energy and enhancing gender equality within industrial sectors.
Our commitment to empowering workers through strong unionization is central to everything that we do and key for a sustainable and successful trade union movement. The 4th Congress will address critical challenges like the impact of new technologies on employment, the necessity for comprehensive skills development and training and the enforcement of fair labour standards across all industries.
This Congress is made possible with the generous support of the New South Wales Government and our hosting affiliates from Australia and New Zealand:
- Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU)
- Australian Workers' Union (AWU)
- Mining and Energy Union (MEU)
- Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing & Allied Services Union of Australia (CEPU)
- CFMEU Manufacturing Division (CFMEU-MD)
- E Tu Incorporated (ETU)
- First Union (FIRST UNION)
- The Pulp & Paper Workers Union Kawerau Incorporated (PPWU)
Together, we will organize for change, empower workers and build a future where workers' rights and dignity are protected worldwide.
______________________________
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