Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 13 March 2026 #CosatuRedFridays
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
13 March 2026
“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!
- SAMWU obtains Arbitration Award and a Certified Variation Order against Makana Local Municipality for non-implementation of job evaluation outcome
- DITSELA Siyakhuluma Seminar coming next week
- South Africa
- Treasury on IMF Technical report
- Defence on deployment in cooperation with SAPS to combat gang violence and illegal mining
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- No justice for women without union rights
SAMWU obtains Arbitration Award and a Certified Variation Order against Makana Local Municipality for non-implementation of job evaluation outcome
Lindelwa Faltein Kate, Samwu Makana Local Secretary, 13 March 2026
When the matter of Job Evaluation Outcome was not implemented and the Management in Makana Local Municipality management took a selective implementation approach by excluding SAMWU members as a result of favouritism by management. South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in Makana Local Municipality leadership in consultation with its members decided to take the matter to South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC).
On 5th November 2025, SAMWU obtained Arbitration Award in its favour. Management was served and informed about the Award and decided not to implement the award despite given a directive to implement by 1 December 2025 and yet again Management failed to implement the job evaluation outcome.
Management was engaged but yet such efforts fell on deaf ears. As the matter involved the livelihood of SAMWU members was affected and their work moral disrupted, SAMWU leadership in consultation with its members decided to approach the SALGBC yet again for a variation order for the inclusion of calculations in the Arbitration Award, dated 05 December 2025.
The variation was unopposed by the municipality and subsequently, on the 9th February 2026, a Variation Award was granted in favour of SAMWU. Numerous correspondence was addressed to the management seeking compliance and implementation of the awards and yet again not surprisingly, management did not respond and did not implement.
In protection of employee’s rights, SAMWU leadership in consultation with its members took a decisive decision to have the Variation Award certified in terms of Section 143 of Labour Relations Act and indeed SAMWU approach CCMA to certify the Variation Award as a Court order and it was granted on the 4th of March 2026 and as usual Management was informed and served but did not implement.
On the 9th of March 2026, as final attempt, SAMWU approached the Sherrif of the High Court for the enforcement of the Variation Order by means Warrant of Execution through removal and attachment of municipal asset with a certified Variation award.
Any further deviation from the court order on the part of the Municipality shall constitute contempt of court, and we shall deal with it on that level.
SAMWU leadership in Makana will never allow its members to be victimized, exploited and underpaid as all workers are entitled to equal work and equal pay. It is unfortunate that SAMWU had to take this approach however it was necessary as a Council took a council resolution to implement Job Evaluation Outome in as far back as 2023 but Management lead by the Accounting Officer failed dismally to implement the council resolution and showed no respect by undermining the Highest Decision-Making Structure of the Municipality.
The administrators have not declared us as individuals at the Department of Employment and Labour till to date dispite numerous attempts from SAMWU to enforce the municipality to comply therefore the members have decided to take the matter to court for enforcement.
The Municipality has not adhered to the compliance order that was issued by Department of Employment and a fine that needed to be paid to DEL regarding the unlawful deductions that need to be paid back to workers. Yet again the management has failed dismally to address the findings by department to comply with Dept of employment. SAMWU Leadership mandated by its membership has decided to take the matter to court for enforcement.
Issued by SAMWU MAKANA LOCAL
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DITSELA Siyakhuluma Seminar coming next week
Poverty
and inequality remain some of the most pressing challenges in South Africa today. While many efforts have been made to address these issues, millions of people still struggle with unemployment, limited opportunities, and unequal access to resources.
This raises an important question: Do we share a common vision for how to tackle poverty and inequality? While many agree that change is needed, there are often different views about the causes of these challenges and the solutions required.
This Siyakhuluma Seminar creates a space for open dialogue; to reflect on these realities, share perspectives, and explore whether a shared vision for a more just and equal society is possible.
Dear Comrades,
You’re cordially invited to DITSELA’s Siyakhuluma Seminar.
Topic: Poverty & Inequality- Is There a Shared Vision?
Date: 20th March 2026
Time: 11H00AM- 13H00PM
Venue: ZOOM
https://ditsela-org-za.zoom.us/j/94297799087?pwd=dftAoIZDSsANKMjmD6Rsd1CtGybVzL.1
Meeting ID: 942 9779 9087
Passcode: 499871
Contact: me...@ditsela.org.za or ma...@ditsela.org.za for enquiries.
We encourage everyone to participate in the conversation, because meaningful solutions can only emerge when different voices and experiences are brought together.
Comradely Greetings,
DITSELA Media
Ditsela Workers’ Education Institute
+27 11 492 0302 (Switchboard)
@DITSELAWorkersEducationInstitu
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
Treasury on IMF Technical report
12 Mar 2026
IMF Technical report on strengthening South Africa's fiscal framework
The National Treasury has been conducting a multi-year process of research to develop proposals for a fiscal anchor for South Africa. In this regard, a Macro-Economic Policy Review was published in 2024, outlining the value of committing to a fiscal anchor or rule to ensure fiscal sustainability in a transparent and accountable way. Follow-on from that, a consultation paper was published at the time of the 2025 Budget which detailed various options for a credible fiscal anchor. Numerous stakeholders have already made submissions in response to this consultation, which form a critical part of the decision-making process going forward.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also conducted an assessment of South Africa’s fiscal framework and considered options for the design of a fiscal anchor. An IMF mission took place from 9 – 20 September 2024. Following this engagement, a report has now been published, including a detailed technical analysis.
National Treasury welcomes the IMF’s endorsement of South Africa’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its fiscal framework. The report provides technical guidance on strengthening fiscal risk management, improving public financial management and articulating a clear fiscal strategy. This will inform government’s work as consultations on strengthening the fiscal framework continue.
In the meantime, the government has opted to pursue a principles-based framework, where governing administrations will be required in law to outline a detailed fiscal plan to ensure debt remains on a sustainable path throughout its term of office. This framework is better suited to South Africa’s institutional and economic context and provides the flexibility needed to respond to economic shocks while maintaining fiscal discipline.
The IMF’s technical assistance report is available here.
For enquiries, please contact me...@treasury.gov.za
Issued by National Treasury
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Defence on deployment in cooperation with SAPS to combat gang violence and illegal mining
12 Mar 2026
As announced during the 2026 State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has commenced a coordinated deployment in cooperation with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat escalating violent crime, gangsterism and illicit mining activities in several provinces across the Republic.
This deployment forms part of a coordinated Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster intervention aimed at stabilising affected communities and disrupting criminal syndicates operating in key hotspot areas.
The legal basis for this deployment is derived from Section 201(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which authorises the President to employ the South African National Defence Force in cooperation with the South African Police Service to prevent and combat crime in order to maintain law and order within the Republic. This constitutional provision recognises that threats to internal stability may require the coordinated deployment of national security capabilities to safeguard the safety and security of citizens.
The operational framework for this deployment is further detailed in Section 19(3)(c)(ii) of the Defence Act (Act 42 of 2002), which regulates the employment of the South African National Defence Force for internal operations and clarifies the principles governing command and control arrangements between the SANDF and the SAPS while operating in a coordinated and integrated manner under the direction of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS).
The SANDF will be deployed in the following provinces to address specific criminal threats:
Western Cape: Focus on gangsterism and violent crime.
Eastern Cape: Focus on gang violence.
Gauteng: Focus on illicit mining activities.
North West: Focus on illegal mining operations.
Free State: Focus on illicit mining activities.
The current intervention builds on previous deployments, including Operation PROSPER (2019) in the Western Cape, where the SANDF worked alongside SAPS to stabilise gang-affected communities in the Cape Flats.
Enquiries:
General
Officer Commanding Joint Operational Headquarters
Major General Godfrey Thulare
Cell: 066 305 7872
Acting
Senior Staff Officer Operational Communication Joint Operations Division
Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Mathebula
Cell: 081 480 2017
Issued by Department of Defence
International-Solidarity
No justice for women without union rights
12 March, 2026
IndustriALL Global Union has joined trade union organizations worldwide in calling on governments to deliver concrete action on women's rights in the world of work, as the 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW70) meets in New York.
The demands, brought by IndustriALL and fellow global union federations, centre on access to justice for women in the world of work, a right blocked for millions by discriminatory laws, underfunded institutions and structural barriers to decision-making.
Justice is inseparable from union rights
Access to justice cannot be separated from the right to organize. Freedom of association and collective bargaining must be enforced for all workers, in supply chains, in the informal economy, for migrant workers and across public and private sectors. Across global supply chains, women are overrepresented in the most precarious jobs, often with no union coverage and no access to grievance mechanisms. Governments must act to stop the persecution of women trade union leaders and make justice affordable through legal aid and fee waivers.
End the gender pay gap — with enforcement, not promises
Closing the gender pay gap requires ratifying and implementing ILO Conventions 100 and 111, establishing minimum living wages through collective bargaining or statutory processes, introducing pay transparency laws and revaluing feminised occupations. Enforcement must be backed by strengthened labour inspection, accessible complaints procedures and full salary data transparency in public and private sectors.
Ratify C190 — and make it real
Governments must ratify and implement ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206, enacting comprehensive strategies that prohibit all forms of gender-based violence and harassment across the entire world of work, including domestic violence and femicide. Reporting mechanisms must be safe, confidential and gender-responsive, with full protection from retaliation. Trade unions must be involved in designing, monitoring and enforcing these policies.
Care, digitalization and decent work
Labour legislation must be extended to workers in precarious and informal employment. The state’s primary responsibility for care provision must be recognized, with public investment in care and the redistribution of unpaid care work.
On digitalization, a gender perspective must be mainstreamed in policy decisions on artificial intelligence and platform work, and the digital gender divide must be closed.
Says IndustriALL assistant generla secretary Christina Olivier:
“As negotiations continue in New York, the CSW70 agreed conclusions must deliver concrete, enforceable commitments. Access to justice for women sustains peace and democracy and governments must act accordingly.”
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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