Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 5 June 2026 #CosatuNationalActionAgainstCostofLiving
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY COSATU Call Center Contacts: 010 002 2590 #COSATU set to launch the Cost of Living Campaign this month, on the 19th June… #NationaActionAgainstCostOfLiving #ILC2026 #ClassWar #Cosatu40 #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
5 June 2026
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- Minister Nomakhosazana Meth intervenes in looming Pick n Pay retrenchment of 22 000 Workers, in a six-hour marathon meeting
- South Africa
- SACP condemns xenophobic attacks and threats and calls for working-class unity and solidarity
- South Africa and Kenya businesses commit to increasing trade under AFCFTA
- Zero Tolerance to corruption as Minister Nomakhosazana Meth welcomes SIU Investigation into UIF and PSIRA Training Contract
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- South Africa secures overwhelming support at ILO Committee on Application of Standards
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
Minister Nomakhosazana Meth intervenes in looming Pick n Pay retrenchment of 22 000 Workers, in a six-hour marathon meeting
04 June 2026
CAPE TOWN, 4 JUNE 2026 - The Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms. Nomakhosazana Meth, has intervened in Pick 'n Pay's looming retrenchment of over 22 000 workers. The company submitted a Section 189 notice on 4 May 2026, commencing the 60-day consultation process towards the retrenchments.
The Section 189 notice of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, permits employers to dismiss employees based on their operational requirements and sets out the provision for the employer to consult in terms of the collective agreement.
In accordance with the expanded mandate of the Department in job preservation, Minister Meth convened the national leadership of the Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU) led by General Secretary Solly Phetoe, South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), led by President Patrick Hailane, and Pick 'n Pay top Executives, led by Group CEO Sean Summers, including Pick 'n Pay national Company Council Chairperson Cyril Mpanza.
The Minister's intervention successfully steered the parties toward common ground, prioritising job security and economic stability. The parties have agreed to return to the bargaining table with set timelines, following an intensive six-hour engagement session yesterday, Wednesday, 3 June. The meeting follows requests by both Pick 'n Pay CEO and Organised Labour, for Minister's intervention in the matter.
“I want to highly commend the leadership of Pick n Pay, COSATU and SACCAWU for their maturity, patriotism and willingness to find each other. By agreeing to actively look for alternative, sustainable solutions through the collective bargaining negotiations is a positive step for workers, the retail sector and South Africans in general. Furthermore, we extend our best wishes to all parties," says Minister Meth.
Next steps and confidentiality
Talks are currently at a highly delicate stage. While the mood is optimistic and the halt of the CCMA process is a major milestone, all parties have agreed to handle the ongoing discussions with utmost care and sensitivity. To ensure that progress is made, and the integrity of the negotiation process is preserved, no further comment will be provided at this stage until final agreement is reached.
The Department of Employment and Labour remains committed to facilitating a fair, sustainable outcome that protects the livelihood of all parties, while ensuring business sustainability.
ENDS//
Media enquiries:
Ms. Thobeka Magcai, Ministry Spokesperson. Email: Thobeka...@Labour.gov.za 072 737 2205.
Issued by: MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
SACP condemns xenophobic attacks and threats and calls for working-class unity and solidarity
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 5 June 2026
The South African Communist Party (SACP) overtly rejects and opposes the xenophobic violence and threats of violence against immigrants. There is no justification for the abuse of any migrant, regardless of their legal status.
As the SACP, we call for unity, not division of the working class and poor. We call for peace and not violence or vengeance. We need more working-class solidarity and not mutual elimination of workers, not destruction. We also call for the implementation of a sound and humane migration policy, not abrupt witch-hunts and abuse.
The SACP, of course, recognises the pervasive crisis of illegal immigration as a legitimate political issue for South Africa, with state authorities over time unable to effectively deal with the crisis. We thus call for proactive and effective state mechanisms to deal with the matter in line with the law.
Migration has been a persistent challenge over time, occasionally surfacing at key moments and at other times remaining dormant under the surface but still consistently present. At all these times, however, there has not been a predictable, measurable, effective and consistent all-encompassing policy response to it at the state level to address it or even to understand it fully. Any interventions that have been implemented have been misaligned, unstructured and inconsistent, leading to a distorted view of both its nature and its gravity. For the average working-class person residing in areas with high poor migrant populations, this crisis was always likely to spring up and escalate into an uncontrollable disaster.
At this critical juncture in South Africa’s history, one characterised by a crosscutting capitalist crisis that has led to mass unemployment, poverty and a severely diminished state apparatus unable to effectively respond to migration and poverty, we are compelled to find solutions where the state system has failed. The state’s inability to coherently respond to the crisis of poverty and migration emanates from the known systemic capacity problems of the state that predate the flare-up of the present violence. The working class, whether migrant or citizen, objectively faces the most severe economic limitations that manifest in various ways in their daily lives.
At its material base, therefore, this is a manifestation of the failure of the capitalist system in a country with some of the highest unemployment rates and the most unequal country in the world. These challenges are not accidental but flow from the laws of motion governing global capitalism. Imperialism and colonial legacies have produced extreme uneven development across the African continent. Wars, economic instability, and poverty in neighbouring countries push desperate workers and families to seek opportunities outside of their own borders. Within our own borders, capitalism creates a massive reserve army of labour, using competition to suppress wages and conditions.
The South African economy, anchored in a neoliberal trajectory, is objectively proving unable to create more work given its inability to industrialise, among others. These economic limitations manifest through mutual confrontation between members of the same working class in the context of diminishing resources, dwindling job opportunities and virtually non-existent economic prospects. Solely blaming fellow African workers for these systemic problems serves only the ruling class and distracts from the real enemies of the working class: monopoly capital, corruption, and policies that prioritise profit over people. The war between documented and undocumented workers is unjustified.
The solution lies in a multidisciplinary approach which involves thoroughgoing working-class solidarity rather than violent attacks and other acts of aggression rooted in dehumanisation of migrants. We call for the construction and implementation of a comprehensive and effective migration policy and system founded on appropriate and effective enforcement measures while building the state’s capacity to manage migration on a sustainable basis and the building of a rigorous labour law enforcement system through the expansion of the department of labour.
ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.
Media, Communications & Information Department | MCID
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South Africa and Kenya businesses commit to increasing trade under AFCFTA
5 JUNE 2026
The South Africa-Kenya Business Forum held on the margins of Kenya President Dr William Ruto’s state visit to South Africa, committed to narrowing the trade deficit through increasing overall trade, co-investing in critical infrastructure while leveraging the leveraging the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) to improve market efficiency.
More than 300 businesspeople representing different sectors attended the forum in Midrand, Gauteng.
Speaking at the forum, Business Unity South Africa representative, Dr Stavros Nicolaou said the discussions held at the forum underscored the need for regulatory alignment, digitalisation of customs, and trade facilitation to address barriers and enhance investment.
“Despite AfCFTA and TFTA the trade between the two economies is underwhelming but has a significant room to grow. We view Kenya as a significant opportunity for South Africa businesses and call for greater collaboration in sharing manufacturing data chains and aggregating procurement for economies of scale and better procurement,” said Nicolaou.
Outlining actions steps to be taken and collaboration, Nicolaou said aligning standards, digitalising customs, reviewing tariff structures, and enhancing partnership with value chain integration would be key in forging trade between the two countries.
As the two economies work to expand their strategic alliance, South Africa and Kenya have signed six new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing cooperation in commerce, maritime transportation, skills development, gender equality, arts and culture, and sport.
Caption: Business Unity South Africa representative Dr Stavros Nicolaou speaking at the SA-Kenya Business Forum held in Midrand, Gauteng.
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E-mail: BLuk...@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
X: @the_dtic
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Zero Tolerance to corruption as Minister Nomakhosazana Meth welcomes SIU Investigation into UIF and PSIRA Training Contract
4 June 2026
The Minister of Employment and Labour, Ms. Nomakhosazana Meth, has welcomed the proclamation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe allegations of maladministration, corruption, and unlawful conduct linked to training contracts within the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA).
Proclamation 316 of 2026 mandates the SIU to investigate the procurement of training services, intentional or negligent financial losses suffered by the State, and whether public funds were utilized in a fair, competitive, transparent, and cost-effective manner.
The investigation zooms in on training programmes meant to benefit 7 071 learners across all nine provinces, covering Election Observer Training, End-User Computing Training, and PSIRA Grade E to C Training. The probe spans conduct that occurred between 1 January 2019 and 3 June 2026, with the scope to look beyond this period, if linked to the core allegations.
Minister Meth emphasized that this decisive action aligns directly with the Department's steadfast commitment to clean governance, accountability, and the total eradication of corruption inside its entities.
"Public funds are sacred. The funds were meant to upskill and empower vulnerable learners and the unemployed. Any irregular or unlawful diversion of these resources is an affront to the citizens of this country. We are fully in support of this investigation, and will ensure that our entities provide total cooperation to the SIU," said Minister Meth.
The Minister further welcomed the SIU's mandate to institute civil proceedings in the High Court or Special Tribunal to set aside unlawful contracts and recover stolen State funds, as well as its commitment to refer any evidence of criminal conduct straight to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
"Those who have compromised the integrity of our skills development programmes for personal gain, must face the full might of the law. We want to ensure that every cent allocated to changing the lives of workers and work-seekers is fully accounted," concludes Minister Meth.
ENDS//
Media enquiries :
Ms. Thobeka Magcai, Ministry Spokesperson. Email: Thobeka...@Labour.gov.za 072 737 2205.
Issued by: MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR
International-Solidarity
South Africa secures overwhelming support at ILO Committee on Application of Standards
4 June 2026
South Africa successfully defended its Employment Equity laws before the International Labour Organization (ILO) Committee on the Application of Standards on 03 June 2026, receiving broad backing from ILO member countries and the Workers' group. The support followed a case advanced by Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) alleging non-consultation. Member states and workers' representatives argued that South Africa's measures are necessary, citing the latest Employment Equity Report statistics which underscore persistent racial and gender disparities in the labour market.
While respecting the ILO's supervisory processes, the South African delegation expressed serious concern that BUSA is engaging in “forum shopping" attempting to achieve through international mechanisms outcomes that remain under active consideration within national legal systems. Accordingly, South Africa called for ILO vigilance to prevent the supervisory mechanism from being weaponised by parties seeking to bypass domestic legal processes.
Acknowledging that significant challenges remain in overcoming deeply entrenched inequalities inherited from the past, South Africa fully agreed with the Employers' position that the elimination of labour market discrimination takes time. The delegation affirmed a step-by-step commitment to seeking equity in the labour market.
Furthermore, South Africa re-emphasised that its sectoral employment equity targets do not constitute rigid racial quotas, nor do they require the appointment or promotion of unqualified persons. Employers retain the discretion to consider qualifications, skills, experience, operational requirements, and the availability of suitably qualified candidates.
The delegation stressed that South Africa's approach is embedded in consultation with all labour market, stakeholders employers and employers' organisations, employees and trade unions, academics, civil society, and the public at large. The five-year sectoral targets were the product of an extensive consultation process running from 2018 to 2025, when they were published. In a related Employment Equity case decided on 22 May 2026, the Constitutional Court dismissed a challenge to the consultation process, ruling that there had been sufficient consultation to determine the sectoral targets.
South Africa refrained from commenting on elements of its Employment Equity targets that are currently sub judice. The delegation further observed that the ILO is facing difficult financial challenges and expressed the view that this particular case was not necessary. It called on the Committee to use its limited resources for matters where domestic remedies have been exhausted.
As it concluded its appearance, the South African delegation left the Committee with three firm and clear messages:
1. Unwavering commitment to international labour standards – South Africa continues to embrace the full body of ILO Conventions, the Decent Work Agenda, and fundamental principles and rights at work, engaging in good faith with the Committee and the Committee of Experts out of a deep belief in the social justice mission of the ILO.
2. Challenges addressed through law, not retreat – Any gaps between domestic law and international standards, if any, are met with transparent, constitutionally mandated processes: parliamentary scrutiny, social dialogue, public scrutiny, and judicial review. South Africa does not shy away from constructive criticism but asks that its efforts be measured against the living reality of its constitutional democracy.
3. Supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law South Africa will never abandon the supremacy of its Constitution, the expansive institutional infrastructure for ensuring the rule of law and resolving disputes, or its solidarity with the international labour rights community.
For media enquiries, please contact:
For media inquiries, please contact: Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
082 697 0694/ teboho....@labour.gov.za
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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