Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 27 October 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary

[Norman Mampane]

 

COSATU TODAY #Cosatu’s Just Transition Global South Exchange session gets underway at Boksburg... #Cosatu scheduled to hold its 40th Anniversary at Dobsonville, Soweto on December 6 #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

27 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!

• COSATU invites members of the media to attend the Just Transition Global South Exchange 2025

• COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40^th anniversary

• South Africa
• COSATU General Secretary, Solly Phetoe’s input to the NUM 80^th anniversary celebrations on the 24^th October 2025 at Constitutional Hill
• International-Workers’ Solidarity!
• Ethiopia: Teacher unionists set bold agenda and chart the future for quality education

Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics  

COSATU invites members of the media to attend the Just Transition Global South Exchange 2025

Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 26 October 2025

 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) invites members of the media to attend the Just Transition Global South Exchange (GSE), taking place 27 October to 29 October 2025.

 

The three-day event will bring together unions, civil society, and government representatives from the Global South to strengthen cooperation and advance a just and equitable transition to a low carbon economy. Building on the success of the 2024 GSE, this year’s exchange is set to deepen solidarity and coordination in the lead up to COP30 in Brazil in November. Discussions will centre around workers’ rights, energy democracy, climate finance, job creation and ensuring the Just Transition remains worker-led and socially inclusive.

 

Venue: Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, Terminal B

Time: 9am - registration starts at 7.30am; access is by accreditation only.

 

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (National Spokesperson)

Mobile:  079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zan...@cosatu.org.za

_____________________

COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40^th 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 40^th 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 40^th 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: 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

South Africa

COSATU General Secretary, Solly Phetoe’s input to the NUM 80^th anniversary celebrations on the 24^th October 2025 at Constitutional Hill

 

Solly Phetoe, COSATU General Secretary, 24^th October 2025

 

Introduction

 

“Workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains” – Karl Marx

 

It was on the 3^rd October 1945 in the city of Paris, when workers of the world united to not only reject war imperialism, fascism, exploitation and oppression of working people, but to form their own organisation which was to emerge as the global force for workers’ rights, social justice and building working class power.

 

This is the history of the formation of the WFTU and since then we all know that the history of the WFTU is the history of class struggle, solidarity and internationalism.

 

COSATU and workers from the whole African continent bear testimony to the heroic sacrifices, solidarity, common battles and shared trenches during our own struggle against apartheid in our country. WFTU was not just amongst us, but was one with us, from the underground to the workplaces and wherever we were, we knew we could count on this titanic giant that gave us shelter, material resources, finances and whatever we needed to wage our own struggles.

 

1. The significance of the birth of the WFTU to COSATU and the global working class!

The birth of the WFTU tore apart artificial boundaries that divided workers according to race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, regionalism and beliefs and solidified them as a class force against capitalism. This is why militant and class oriented workers are unequivocal in their emphasis of unity in struggle and solidarity across divides. Capitalism divides, workers unite.

 

We are honoured to be part of this historic 80^th anniversary by our affiliate, the NUM, because we know the decisive role played by the South African working-class struggle in building the WFTU and how the WFTU contributed to the struggle that declared apartheid a crime against humanity. We are proud that our own sons and daughters were part of the WFTU and played an outstanding role. This includes Stalin Mntshali, Moses Mabhida, Gertrude Shope, JB Marks, Moses Kotane amongst others.

 

Today we stand tall in commemoration of our 40^th anniversary of this legendary federation of Elijah Barayi, COSATU as a proud force against all forms of oppression and exploitation, against imperialism and Zionism, against wars and violence, against crime and corruption and against all forms of subjugation.

 

It was the gallant Cubans, the Latin American workers, the African workers, the Asian workers and European workers who fought relentlessly to support our cause and defeat the crime of apartheid.

 

However, we dare say again that the world stands on the throes of a global geopolitical apocalypse and warmongering unprecedented since the end of the 2^nd world war. War imperialism is on the rampage in every corner of the world. The US and Israel together with NATO are waging a global war against humanity in every corner and part of the world. They are in Palestine, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Venezuela, Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe. Their hand is also very visible on our own continent, in Sudan, DRC and West and North Africa.

 

Today we are witnessing a live genocide in Palestine, the first to be televised every minute, with women and children butchered everyday in front of our screens. The world is not only helpless as the butchers of Gaza run amok, but has chosen silence and looking away as machine guns roar and live ammunitions tear bodies with naked impunity.

 

When COSATU for years warned that we know apartheid when we see it, many chose to ignore our warnings, today we have a world in dismay and horror. The UN has been rendered a global talk shop, held ransom by the big powers, particularly the US which is the global war machine of Zionism.

 

In our own country, South Africa, we have become the direct victim of the US imperialist warmongering and economic bullying through the tariff regime which is the unilateral political stick of the empire against its enemies or those seeking to be free from its control and domination.

 

The empire has become openly racist, chauvinist and vicious. From manufacturing lies about a “fake white genocide” to openly demanding the reversal of all the democratic gains of the ANC-led government, such as NHI, BELA, land expropriation and the ICJ case against apartheid Israel. This is the era of open craziness by the US led empire. They are in open collaboration with a fringe group of Zionists (particularly the SABJD & SAZF) and rightwing Afrikaners in the form of Afri-forum, Solidarity, FF Plus who are leading the offensive to sanction, isolate our country.

 

They are going further to call for sanctions against ANC leaders or those from our own movement who have been advancing effective

transformation against apartheid and the legacy of racism and sexism in our country. These are the enemies of transformation that we have for too long allowed to poison our political and economic fabric as a country without action.

 

We are at this moment firmly believing that we do need more solidarity with the sustained attacks by imperialism on our democratic sovereignty and call on all our international allies, friends and humanity to stand on the side of justice in defence of progressive principles and global justice.

We also express our full and unwavering support for the Cuban people and their revolution that has been under attack for not less than 75 years and call for an end to the embargo imposed by the US.

 

In the same vein comrades, we call for a sustained focus in solidarity with the struggling workers and people of Eswatini against the barbaric monarchy. The region and the world cant be silent whilst next door we are witnessing another horror in total dismay, but hopelessness.

We also call for justice and inclusive development for the workers of Zimbabwe and the rest of the SADC region in general.

 

We affirm our full solidarity with the workers and people of the DRC, Sudan and Mozambique in their quest for Peace and inclusive development. The struggle for democracy, industrialisation and inclusive development are our rallying call for lasting and sustainable peace on our continent.

Towards this end, we call on our allies, the international trade union movement, with WFTU at the centre, to join us in this major undertaking to establish a new, just and better Africa.

 

COSATU joins the millions of workers all over the world to celebrate the 80 years of working-class internationalism, solidarity and class struggle. The WFTU was born at a time of wars of imperialism, colonial subjugation and intense liberation struggles, particularly on our own continent and region.

 

As we celebrate our 40^th anniversary, we have no doubt that workers in South Africa and workers all over the world regard this monumental day as their own, precisely because our democratic breakthrough was in no small measure a product of the domestic struggles and international solidarity that broke the back of apartheid and ushered in a new and democratic dispensation.

 

2. Defending our global collective right to strike and freedom to bargain, organise and associate as per Convention 87

COSATU also welcome the case on the right to strike as brought before the ICJ by ITUC and WFTU to affirm our fundamental rights as enshrined in Convention 87

 

We also extend our full appreciation to the governments that stood on the right side of history and defended the right to strike as contained in Convention 78, particularly our own government led by the Department of Employment and Labour and the support of the Presidency.

 

On the African continent we have seen South Africa, Egypt, Somalia and Mauritius and various other governments beyond our own continent, including Brazil in South America who have stood firm on the side of workers and their rights.

 

The state of our region, Southern Africa requires our most urgent attention to reverse the years of apartheid, colonial and post-colonial subjugation and underdevelopment. This explains why its difficult to have peace and progress, precisely because of the conditions of extreme inequalities, poverty and unemployment. COSATU calls for peace and inclusive development in the DRC and Sudan and end to imperialist wars which has killed many Africans while the world stands by without care.

 

That is why we call on SADC to be more resolute in dealing with the 3 pillars of regional stability and progress through peace, democracy and justice for all, which are;

1. Building democracy and effective governance institutions
2. Advancing regional economic integration and industrialisation
3. Creating employment and inclusive growth for the people of the region

That’s why we are firm in our call for multiparty democracy and economic justice in Swaziland and call for the further intensification of the solidarity work with the workers and people of Swaziland. To this end, COSATU extends full appreciation for the work done by the NUM in solidarity with PUDEMO and the trade union movement of Swaziland.

 

4. COSATU 40^th anniversary, the historic milestone of working class power for decent work, social justice, democracy and socialism!

COSATU Central Committee (CC) took place on the 15^th – 18^th September 2025 in Ekurhuleni, which was a historic assembly of workers in a time of domestic and global turbulences. The CC made a thorough assessment of the domestic and international balance of power, the forces involved and the trajectory of the class struggle in the current situation.

 

It was joined by our international allies and different components of the international trade union movement, who expressed full solidarity with COSATU and the struggles we are waging better wages, NHI, BELA and equal access to education, land expropriation without compensation and gender equality.

 

They further expressed full solidarity with our country and the people of South Africa and Africa in general, against the tariffs war led by Trump and the rightwing fascists in the US.

 

The Central Committee of COSATU called for the intensification of the class struggle to defend workers from the neoliberal onslaught, poverty, inequalities and landlessness. These are gross injustices that have been a lived reality of the working class and the poor.

 

This is why our call for decent work is at the same time a call for decent lives for all. Workers’ rights are indivisible and call for unity, solidarity and struggle by all forces committed to justice.

 

It is for this reason that COSATU shall be holding its 40^th anniversary Rally in Dobsonville, Soweto on the 6^th December 2025, to reflect on the strides made by workers under the leadership of COSATU and prepare for the battles of the next 40 years in the long journey to real working class freedom.

 

We are proud of the gains and advances we have made since 1985 and shall defend them at all times. But we know too well that our freedom is not achieved until we defeat capitalism itself. That’s why the Central Committee was clear on going back to basics regarding our mass ground work in workplaces, communities, factories, and the international site of struggle itself.

 

The 40^th anniversary is at the same time a global anniversary of workers, who throughout the world stood with us in our struggle against apartheid. To that extent, we stand firm with the workers and the people of the world involved in struggles wherever they are.

 

The 40^th anniversary is a fitting tribute to the outstanding internationalism demonstrated by COSATU throughout its 40 years of existence.

 

Conclusion

 

COSATU wish the NUM and the WFTU more years of good health, strength and fortitude in the journey to working class power, more service to workers, more clarity against the oppressive bosses in the mines and more courage in advancing working class internationalism against tariffs, wars, plunder of our mineral resources and to defeat multinational companies that exploit and abuse workers.

 

COSATU knows too well that the NUM is the bedrock of our revolution and its strength is our strength.

 

Amandla!

 

International-Solidarity   

Ethiopia: Teacher unionists set bold agenda and chart the future for quality education

Standards and working conditions Leading the profession Go public! Fund education, 27 October 2025

The 23rd General Assembly of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Association (ETA) convened from October 14th-15th, 2025, bringing together educators and union leaders from across the nation and continent. The event was a call for solidarity, reform, and renewed commitment to quality, inclusive public education.

Education: A fundamental human right

In his remarks, Education International Africa (EIA) Director, Dr Dennis Sinyolo, set the tone with a message of unity and urgency. “I am delighted to be back in Ethiopia, just a few days after attending a successful teacher education conference at the African Union headquarters.”

Extending greetings from global education leaders and emphasizing the continent-wide solidarity among teachers, he reminded delegates: “Education is a fundamental human right and a public good enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

The challenge: Teacher shortages and underfunding

Dr. Sinyolo also stressed the stark realities facing African education. “Teacher shortages continue to impede education progress across the continent. UNESCO projections show that 44 million new teachers are needed to achieve SDG 4 by 2030, 15 million of them in Sub-Saharan Africa alone,” he noted. The root cause, he said, is insufficient investment, as, “on average, African governments invest 3.8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or 15% of the national budget in education instead of the internationally agreed minimum benchmarks of 6% and 20%, respectively.”

Go Public! Fund Education: A continental push

The EIA Director also drew attention of participants to the EI Go Public! Fund Education campaign, launched in 26 African countries, including Ethiopia. “We are calling on governments to invest in education and teachers, infrastructure, teaching and learning resources. We are therefore calling for a quality public school for every African and Ethiopian child,” Sinyolo declared. “A public school where every child is taught by a highly trained, professionally qualified, motivated and supported teacher and learns in a well-resourced, safe and healthy classroom.”

Teachers’ working conditions are student’s learning conditions

Dr. Sinyolo added: “Our teachers should be paid decent salaries; they must have good working conditions, and be given the trust, and support they so deserve. Teachers’ working conditions are children’s learning conditions.”

That is why he urged the Ethiopian government to implement the UN Secretary General’s High Level Panel Recommendations on the teaching profession, pointing out that “teaching should not be a profession of last resort or a stepping stone to other professions, but an attractive and first choice profession!”

Leadership and reform: ETA’s vision forward

For his part, Yohannes Benti, ETA President and member of the EI Executive Board, acknowledged the pivotal role of teachers: “Teachers play a vital role in building generations. Therefore, even though the declining quality of education in our country requires the contribution of various stakeholders, teachers carry the greatest responsibility - from proposing solutions to implementing corrective actions. As such, we must fulfil our professional responsibility by ensuring educational quality and improving student learning outcomes through collective effort.”

“To provide quality education, teachers must have suitable working environments and be well-motivated. We believe that our mother institution - the Ministry of Education - bears a significant share of this responsibility,” Benti continued.

He went on underlining challenges: “Most of our general education institutions remain below standard, and under such conditions, expecting quality outcomes is unrealistic. Hence, to address shortages of human especially teachers and material resources, it is essential to increase financing for education.”

The assembly was not just about reflection; it was also about action. Leadership elections were held, and strategic reforms debated. Benti then called for unity: “I would like to urge you to remain united and focused on meeting the needs of your students and members, for in unity there is strength. Organize and mobilize for a stronger ETA and a stronger Ethiopian education system!”

Five BIGs: A blueprint for change and unity

Sinyolo closed with a rallying cry for ambitious policy development or reform: “Think BIG. Plan BIG. Invest BIG. Act BIG. Achieve BIG.”

As Ethiopia and Africa face daunting challenges in the education sector, unionists left the congress with a renewed mandate: to advocate, push and put pressure on public authorities until the right to education becomes a reality for every child.

______________________________

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

 

 

 

 

 

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