Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 3 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
3 August 2026
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- NEHAWU mourns the passing of Comrade Jacques Cupido
- NUM condemns the brutal killing of a female security officer at the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre (EBMTC) in Midrand
- NUM National Women’s Structure collaborates with Mmonday Pictures for Landmark Film Screening and Panel Discussion on Women’s Emancipation in Matlosana (Klerksdorp), North West
- South Africa
- COSATU notes with extreme dismay the appointment of the National Council on GBVF
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Unity Korea workers call on global management to end prolonged work suspensions
Workers’
Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
NEHAWU mourns the passing of Comrade Jacques Cupido
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, August 03, 2026
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) has learnt with sadness of the passing of its Northern Cape Provincial Chairperson, Comrade Jacques Cupido.
NEHAWU sends sincerest condolences to his family, friends and comrades in the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM). We wish his family strength and courage in the period of dealing with this dark hour.
Comrade Cupido dedicated his life in service of workers and the working-class family. He championed workers shop floor struggles and spent his energy in defending the gains of workers against exploitative employers whose sole preoccupation is profit maximisation.
His passing occurs at a time when capitalism continues to deepen inequality, unemployment, poverty and exploitation, and imperialism intensifying its aggression in the world and requires comrades of the stature of Comrade Cupido to remain unwavering to the commitment of working-class struggle.
At the recently held 13th National Congress of the union, the union bestowed upon him the Bheki Mkhize Award for Long Service as a result of his service across union structures, and his distinguished record of long service and collective leadership.
Comrade Cupido joined the union in the early nineties as a member of the union employed in the Department of Social Development as a Community Development Practioner. He grew within its ranks and was elected as a shopsteward in the Calvinia Unitary Branch and served as its Branch Chairperson.
In 2012, the Regional Executive Committee of DS Aubrey Beukes Region took a decision to appoint him as the Acting Regional Chairperson. In 2014, the Provincial Executive Committee resolved to appoint him as the Acting Provincial Chairperson following the deployment of then Chairperson to the National Council of Provinces.
When the union convened its 10th Provincial Congress in 2016, Cde Cupido was duly elected as the Provincial Chairperson. Comrade Cupido was re-elected by the 11th and 12th Provincial Congresses.
Comrade Cupido equally served in COSATU, having been elected in 2015 as a Provincial Office Bearer of COSATU to the position of Deputy Provincial Chairperson where he served two terms. At the 2022 Provincial Congress of COSATU, Comrade Cupido was elected to the position of Provincial Chairperson of COSATU and served in that position for two terms.
Comrade Cupido was also a long standing and committed member of the South African Communist Party. He was elected to its 6th Provincial Executive Committee at the Provincial Congress in 2022 and subsequently elected to the Provincial Working Committee where he headed the International Relations Commission and the Trade Union Commission. Comrade Cupido espoused the Marxist-Leninist ideology and strongly believed that communism will one day unite the human race.
Indeed, Comrade Cupido was an embodiment of the best traditions of the Congress movement, he was a trade unionist, activist and a leader of the African National Congress [ANC] and the South African Communist Party [SACP] and served our people diligently with distinction.
We will forever remember Comrade Cupido for his sharp analytical skills, discipline and dedication to the working-class struggle. Indeed, the union has lost a dedicated cadre of the revolution.
In his honour, the national union will advance workplace organisation to defend collective bargaining, heighten class consciousness and advance internationalism. We will continue to fight for the ideals he believed in, for the attainment of socialism in our lifetime.
NEHAWU dips its banners at the passing of this exceptional leader of the working class.
Rus in Vrede Comrade Cupido.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
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NUM condemns the brutal killing of a female security officer at the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre (EBMTC) in Midrand
Lefty Mashego, NUM National Education Structure Secretary, Media Statement, 03 August 2026
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is highly disturbed and deeply touched by the horrendous killing of a female security officer Nevermind Grace Mngomezulu at the union’s training college, the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre (EBMTC) in Midrand over the weekend.
The NUM together with the EBMTC Board of Trustee condemn such barbaric criminal act alleged to have been committed by Mahlathini Fannie Lebea, Mngomezulu’s colleague.
Both Mngomezulu and Lebea worked for All Is Well Security Company contracted by the EBMTC to look after the security of the institution.
The lifeless body of Mngomezulu was discovered in one of the female change room floors, covered in blood, seemed to have been stabbed to death with a sharp object.
The EBMTC’s video footage showed that the last person who was seen following Mngomezulu to the change rooms was Lebea. Lebea has since run away and the police are currently looking for him.
“We are extremely saddened by this horrific act of criminality. It seems all was premeditated. After being informed of this unfortunate incident, the EBMTC board members met immediately to discuss and map a way forward and the matter was also reported to the police”, said Lefty Mashego, NUM National Education Structure Secretary.
“We wish to convey our deepest condolences to the late Mngomezulu’s family and her love ones. By so far, the family has already visited the EBMTC and engagements are ongoing as far as the funeral arrangements are concern”, said Mashego
We also want to assure the NUM members and students that the college is safe as more additional security measures are being put into place.
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NUM
National Women’s Structure Collaborates with Mmonday Pictures for Landmark Film Screening and Panel Discussion on Women’s Emancipation in Matlosana (Klerksdorp), North West
Nthabiseng Mashiteng NUM National Women’s Structure Secretary, Media Alert, 03 August 2026
The
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) National Women’s Structure, in partnership with Mmonday Pictures, will host a special screening of the bold new film Marxism and Period Pains.
The film, spearheaded by the country’s well-known artist, writer, actress, and film director Mmabatho Montsho, provides a powerful pedagogical exploration of the intersections between class, labour, gender, and the often-invisible costs of reproductive and
bodily labour in contemporary society.
The event marks the 70th anniversary of the historic 1956 Women’s March, offering a vital platform to reflect on progress made while confronting the persistent challenges faced by working women today. In the spirit of advancing the emancipation of women workers,
the programme includes a film screening followed by a high-level panel discussion focused on advocacy for institutional menstruation leave for both working women and school-going girls.
Event Details:
•Date: Friday, 28 August 2026
•Time: 10:00
•Venue: Matlosana Region (Great Noligwa No8, Harmoy Mine),in Orkney North West Province
•Theme: “Marxism & Period Pains, Women Validate Yourself”
•Dress Code: PPE (Overalls and Tekkies) – Women to wear their own PPE
Approximately 300 workers, in particular the NUM members and general members of the public are expected to attend the event, which will be held in a mine setting to underscore the realities of women in labor-intensive and underground work.
Programme Highlights:
•Screening of Marxism and Period Pains
•Panel discussion featuring:
•A woman working underground
•A woman from the construction sector
•Deputy Minister of Labour
•COSATU President
•Representatives from the SACP and MHSC (Mine Health and Safety Council)
The gathering aims to foster intentional collaboration between labour organisations, activists, workers, professionals, and youth to drive sustainable legislative and systemic change.
“Together, we honour the feminist legacy of 1956 by organising around the material conditions of working-class women today,” said organisers.
Media are invited to attend and cover this important event.
For
more information, interview requests, or venue confirmation, please contact:
Nthabiseng Mashiteng NUM National Women’s Structure Secretary :
072 073 3936
National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) 7 Rissik Street, Cnr Frederick, Johannesburg Tel: 011 377 2000 Web:
www.num.org.za
Twitter: @Num_Media Facebook: National Union of Mineworkers
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
COSATU notes with extreme dismay the appointment of the National Council on GBVF
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 03 August 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes with extreme dismay the appointment of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) by the President, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, upon recommendations received from Parliament.
Despite the Act establishing the Council, specifically stipulating that representatives from business and labour should be included in the Council, this was not done. This is in spite of highly experienced gender rights activists from labour having been nominated to Parliament. Worse, this failure to comply with the Act’s stipulation for labour and business representatives to be included in the Council was formally raised with Parliament with no response received from the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, who were tasked with this process.
Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is not a mere academic discussion.
It is the lived experience of the cashier at a supermarket harassed by customers, it is a daily abuse of cleaners fearing their own colleagues, it is the nightmare faced by young women across all workplaces told that they will only be appointed if they sleep with the boss.
Workplace GBVF trauma needs to be at the centre of the work of the Council.
The Council needs the active collaboration of partners in organised labour and business if it is to achieve its important objectives and progressive mandate.
It is a tragedy that Parliament fumbled this critical but simple task, once again.
COSATU will be engaging the Presidency and Parliament’s Presiding Officers to request their intervention on this matter. We cannot allow the state to bluetick its own legislation and their legally binding provisions.
Issued by COSATU
Internationalism-Solidarity
Unity Korea workers call on global management to end prolonged work suspensions
31 July 2026
The Korea Finance & Services Workers’ Union (KFWU) and its Unity Technologies Korea Branch (KFWU-UTK) held a press conference outside Bithumb Finance Tower in Seoul on 22 July, calling on management to withdraw work-suspension orders and return six
employees to active employment. The employees had previously been placed on standby after refusing the company’s requests to resign.
Unity Technologies Korea Ltd. is the Korean subsidiary of NYSE-listed Unity Software Inc., which develops the Unity game-development platform. Unity CEO Matthew Bromberg was in Seoul for Unite Seoul 2026, the company’s flagship conference in Korea for developers,
creators and businesses using its platform. A global vice-president responsible for human resources was also visiting Korea.
After Bromberg and the HR vice-president rejected its requests for a meeting, the UNI Global Union affiliate held the press conference to draw public attention to the dispute and press Unity’s global management to intervene directly.
Restructuring and prolonged work suspensions
The dispute comes amid several years of restructuring at Unity globally. Unity Technologies Korea’s workforce reportedly fell from approximately 250 in 2023 to around 120 in 2025. In response to growing employment insecurity, Unity’s Korea workers established
the union in September 2025.
When the branch was established, it said Unity’s matrix organizational structure left the Korean subsidiary with limited decision-making authority. It saw the union as an official channel for workers to engage global headquarters and seek greater transparency
in corporate decisions.
Two months later, in November and December 2025, the company asked another 18 employees to resign. Ten of them initially refused. By July 2026, 12 of the original 18 had left the company, while six who continued to refuse remained employed.
The KFWU-UTK alleges that the company used a succession of personnel measures to pressure the workers into resigning without formally dismissing them. Those who refused were first placed on standby, removed from their duties and denied access to the workplace
and company systems. In April, the company issued work-suspension orders under which the affected employees remained employed but received 70 per cent of their average wages.
The six remaining employees work in full-stack and backend development, product management, design and server support. In June, four of them filed applications for relief against the allegedly unfair work-suspension orders with the Regional Labor Relations
Commission. Proceedings are ongoing.
Union calls for global accountability
At the press conference, KFWU Senior Vice-President Kim Tae-gap said:
“Is it right for the company to artificially reorganize jobs and use standby and work-suspension orders to force workers out?”
Jeong Ki-cheol, head of KFWU’s General Office Industry Division, said:
“They recruited young workers with promises of a bright future, only to abolish their positions less than six months later and put their livelihoods at risk through standby orders and wage reductions.
“If the Korean subsidiary lacks the necessary authority, global headquarters must step forward and respond responsibly.”
One of the six affected union members also shared their experience:
“I joined Unity as an engineer on 30 June 2025 to support a product scheduled for launch in early 2026. Just five months later, I received a standby order. I had left a stable job and relocated, but before the ink on my lease agreement had even dried, I was
told to leave.
“When I refused to resign voluntarily, my income was reduced to 70 per cent of my average wage. I had to end my rental arrangement and move to Suwon. My career and marriage plans were thrown into uncertainty, but I chose to stay and fight to prevent management
from creating more victims.”
Choi Seung-sik, President of the KFWU-UTK Branch, stressed that the six workers remain full-time employees:
“It is absurd that a global company with 5,000 employees claims it cannot reassign six workers. This is not due to a lack of available positions, but a total lack of accountability from leadership.”
The union urged Unity’s global leadership to begin immediate dialogue rather than wait for the Regional Labor Relations Commission’s ruling. It presented three demands:
Immediately withdraw the work-suspension orders and restore all affected workers to their original positions.
Take direct responsibility at the global level rather than hiding behind the Korean subsidiary.
Halt unilateral workforce reductions and establish meaningful employment-security measures.
Beyond the immediate loss of income, the six workers have been excluded from active duties for around seven months. The union argues that prolonged separation from projects and workplace systems can seriously damage their professional development and future
career prospects in the fast-moving software industry.
UNI Asia & Pacific Regional Secretary Rajendra Acharya said: “Unity Technologies Korea cannot leave workers employed on paper while excluding them from their jobs for months. We call on global management to meet the union and provide a credible path back to
active employment for the six workers.”
______________________________
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