Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 1 July 2026
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
1 July 2026
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- SACP congratulates Nehawu on its successful 13th National Congress
- Employment and Labour on labour market structure remaining hierarchical in terms of race, gender and disability
- South Africa
- COSATU notes changes to Cabinet
- Trade, Industry and Competition on competitiveness and market access unlocking growth in footwear and leather sector
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Garment workers in Indonesia, Cambodia and Bangladesh learn to use human rights law as a union tool
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
SACP congratulates Nehawu on its successful 13th National Congress
Mbulelo Mandlana, Head of Media, Communications and Information, 1 July 2026
The South African Communist Party (SACP) congratulates the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) for their successful 13th National Congress, held from 26 to 29 June.
The SACP congratulates the newly elected leadership collective as led by President Nyameka Macanda and Secretary General Zola Saphetha, respectively. We also appreciate Nehawu’s resolution to support the SACP’s elections programme.
The SACP recognises the important role of Nehawu as the biggest affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions and as a leading public sector union with an industrial orientation. The task to transform the public sector remains an important one to be taken forward by public sector unions, and Nehawu continues to be a critical component of that particular task.
As the SACP, we take great pride in knowing that Nehawu has reaffirmed in their congress their commitment to taking forward the struggle against neoliberalism, austerity and capitalist exploitation more broadly. The fight against neoliberalism is one that the SACP takes up on various fronts and will work with Nehawu in this regard. Nehawu’s commitment in this respect assures those of us who are in struggle for socialism that the ranks of the revolutionary forces are fortified and that the working class remains the most reliable force in our struggle for socialism.
The organised and unorganised working class in our country carry the flag of our revolution. The unity of the working class is particularly important at this critical time in our country, where reactionary forces seek to cultivate divisions and tensions among the working class by utilising tropes such as regionalism, nationalism, ethnicity and immigration status.
We wish the union strength, wisdom and courage as it implements its programme of action from the National Congress.
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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Employment
and Labour on labour market structure remaining hierarchical in terms of race, gender and disability
01
Jul 2026
The
South African labour market continues to reflect pronounced racial, gender and disability disparities, according to the Commission for Employment Equity (CEE) in its 26th Annual Report.
The Commission for Employment Equity said the upper two decision-making occupational levels, namely top management and senior management, remain racialised and gendered, with the white and Indian population groups, and males, being dominant at these levels.
Released under the tagline “Bridging the Equity Gap Through Diversity and Inclusion”, the report is based on analysis of Employment Equity (EE) data submitted by designated employers, those that employ 50 or more employees, in the 2025 EE reporting cycle.
The CEE uses the Economically Active Population (EAP), as produced by Statistics South Africa, as a benchmark to assist employers in the analysis of their workforce to determine the degree of under or over-representation of designated groups and non-designated
groups in the workforce.
The EAP includes persons between the ages of 15 and 64 years who are either employed or unemployed but seeking employment.
In terms of EAP, as per the report’s review, the African population group for both genders accounts for 81.3%, the Coloured population group for both genders accounts for 8.6%, the White population group accounts for 7.7%, and the Indian population group accounts
for 2.4%.
According to the CEE Annual Report, White population representation at 57.1% is approximately seven times their EAP, and Indian population representation at 12.2% is more than five times their EAP at top management level.
In contrast, African population representation at 21.1% is approximately four times below their EAP, while Coloured population representation at 6.4% is slightly below their EAP at this occupational level. Foreign national representation stands at 3.1% at this
occupational level.
The CEE said male representation remains dominant at top management level, at more than two times female representation. It also shows that males are over-represented in terms of their EAP of 54.3%, while females are under-represented in terms of their EAP
of 45.7% at this occupational level.
The report further indicates that employees with disabilities remain low and account for only 2.5% of representation at top management level.
“Notably, most designated groups, in particular, black women and persons with disabilities continue to be predominantly concentrated within the lower to middle management occupational levels of the workforce. Although there has been an encouraging increase
in the representation of women in lower to middle management occupational levels, this upward movement has not yet translated into substantial gains at Senior Management and Top Management occupational levels,” the CEE said.
The CEE is a statutory body mandated to advise the Minister of Employment and Labour on the development of Codes of Good Practice, regulatory matters, policy directions, and any issues arising from the implementation of the Act.
The report said the persistently low representation of persons with disabilities, remaining slightly above 1% across all occupational levels of all economic sectors for decades, remains a significant concern.
The Commission said, following the new landscape on the setting of sector targets, it urges employers to prioritise and adopt assertive strategies when developing and implementing their Employment Equity Plans (EE Plans).
“Additionally, the high representation of Foreign Nationals across all occupational levels in the economy, particularly in the public universities, remains a concern and must be monitored vigilantly. In a country grappling with high unemployment rates, it is
essential for South Africa to thoroughly review the legislative framework governing labour migration and take appropriate action where necessary,” cautioned the CEE.
The 26th CEE Annual Report, which covers the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, reflects on the key strategic objectives of the CEE, and the highlights of the CEE's activities and achievements during the period under review, guided by the strategic
objectives formulated at the start of their five-year term of office in December 2020.
In the 2025/26 period, some 15 090 reports were submitted, covering 6 896 041 employees. This reflects a decrease of 48.4% in reports received and a decrease of 10.4% in employees covered.
The significant drop in the number of reports received, from 29 269 in 2024 to 15 090 in 2025, is largely due to the change in legislation that does not require small employers, mainly those with one to 49 employees, to submit reports anymore.
The drop in employees covered, from 7 699 665 in 2024 to 6 896 041 in 2025, is insignificant because small employers accounted for few employees, at 803 624.
For the period under review, the highest number of reports was received from the manufacturing sector, followed by the wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, and agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors.
At senior management level, White population group representation stands at 44.1%, which is approximately six times their EAP, while the representation of the Indian population group at 12.5% is approximately five times their EAP.
The representation of the African population group at 31.5% is less than half their EAP at this level. The high representation of foreign nationals, at 3.3%, is noted at this occupational level.
At professionally qualified level, Africans are the only population group that is below their EAP. The representation of foreign nationals at 2.2% is relatively high at this occupational level. The White and Indian population representation far exceeds their
EAP in most sectors of the economy at professionally qualified level.
At skilled level, Africans are the only population group that is under-represented in relation to their EAP. It also shows that the representation of foreign nationals is at 1.3% at this occupational level. The representation of females is above the EAP at
skilled level, while employees with disabilities account for 1.2% of the total workforce at this occupational level.
At semi-skilled level, Africans and Coloureds are over-represented. The White and Indian population groups are under-represented at this occupational level. The high representation of foreign nationals, at 1.7%, at this low occupational level remains a concern
to the CEE.
The report said the representation of Indians and Whites are the only population groups that are below their EAP at unskilled level.
The CEE said, considering the high unemployment rate in South Africa, it is crucial that the representation of foreign nationals, at 3.2%, should be monitored and managed at this occupational level.
The representation of Africans and Coloureds are the only population groups that are over-represented in both government and in the private sector at unskilled level.
Despite set targets, the Commission revealed that the representation of employees with disabilities is at 1.3% of the total workforce in 2025.
This is the first report after the operationalisation of the Employment Equity Amendment Act, No. 4 of 2022, and the introduction of the five-year sector EE targets, including the issuing of the EE Compliance Certificate.
The Employment Equity Amendment Act, No. 4 of 2022, and the two sets of EE Regulations, 2025, became effective on 1 January 2025 and 15 April 2025, respectively.
Reflecting on the status of litigation, the CEE said these cases primarily concern the constitutional validity, lawfulness and implementation of the amended EE legislative framework and the sectoral numerical targets. Some of the litigations have been filed
by political parties, employers' organisations, civil movements and trade unions.
“The CEE will continue to strive for diversity and inclusivity for all those persons previously disadvantaged in the workplace irrespective of the outcome of the litigation,” said outgoing CEE Chairperson Nicole Deokiram.
Enquiries:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
Cell: 082 697 0694
E-mail: teboho....@labour.gov.za
Issued by Department of Employment and Labour
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
COSATU notes changes to Cabinet
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 01 July 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) notes the changes made to Cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Whilst appreciating that this was not a Cabinet reshuffle but rather adjustments to portfolios largely held by one of the parties in the Government of National Unity, we nonetheless are concerned by it and its potential ramifications.
It is deeply worrying that COSATU, a long standing and loyal member of the Tripartite Alliance, was not consulted on these changes to Cabinet.
We hope that this was a mere oversight due to the pressures facing government yesterday and not an intentional slight and will not be repeated.
It is important for government to appreciate that workers have a vested stake in the appointment of persons to lead government, and specifically to their competency and character.
The appointment of the new Minister for Social Development, Dina Pule, is extremely worrying given the dark clouds under which she was previously removed as a Minister. Persons appointed to Cabinet need to be of the highest integrity.
Ms. Pule was previously found badly wanting by scathing reports from the Public Protector and Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
This appointment provides an unnecessary and unhelpful distraction to government’s efforts to cleanse itself after the devastating decade of state capture and corruption and to rebuild society’s trust in it.
It is concerning that the critical Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, tasked with protecting South Africa’s environment and natural resources, including jobs, is now having its third Minister within two years.
We dare not return to a former President’s tenure where Ministers’ average lifespan of less than 12 months was barely enough to draft a Budget let alone make an impact upon service delivery.
It is important that the new members of the Executive hit the ground running. There will be no honeymoon, not when the working class is battling a 43.7% unemployment rate, an economy barely growing at 1% for the past decade, public and municipal services struggling to fulfill their constitutional and developmental mandates; and entrenched levels of crime, corruption, poverty and inequality.
Where they do well, COSATU will commend them, and where they fail, we will demand that heads roll.
Issued by COSATU
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Trade,
Industry and Competition on competitiveness and market access unlocking growth in footwear and leather sector
30 Jun 2026
The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Alexandra Abrahams, says strengthening the competitiveness of South Africa’s footwear and leather industry and improving its ability to access markets will be central to unlocking sustained industrial
growth, deepening localisation and expanding employment opportunities.
Abrahams will deliver remarks at the Footwear Retail Buyer Showcase, Networking Dinner and Targeted Factory Visits, which will take place from 1 to 2 July 2026 at the Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga, Durban.
The initiative is hosted by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the DTIC), in partnership with the South African Footwear and Leather Industries Association (SAFLIA), the South African Footwear and Leather Export Council (SAFLEC), and supported
by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Ahead of the event, Abrahams says South Africa’s industrial challenge is not a lack of demand, but the need to ensure that domestic manufacturers are able to compete effectively, integrate into supply chains and sustain growth in an increasingly competitive
global economy.
She emphasises that improving competitiveness requires a deliberate shift towards reducing structural constraints facing manufacturers, strengthening production capabilities and enabling firms to scale with confidence.
“As government, we must ensure that we create a regulatory environment that allows South African businesses to compete fairly and successfully within both domestic and international markets. If we are serious about rebuilding industrial capacity and creating
jobs at scale, we must focus on removing unnecessary barriers to business, improving the environment in which manufacturers operate, and backing enterprises that are ready to grow, innovate, and expand,” says Abrahams.
Abrahams adds that industrial development in sectors such as footwear and leather is increasingly dependent on the ability of local firms to respond to global supply chain pressures, improve efficiency and strengthen their integration into both retail and export
markets.
“Sustainable industrial growth requires consistent investment in productive capacity, logistics efficiency, skills, and enterprise development. We must ensure that local manufacturers are producing for the domestic market and simultaneously positioned to compete
and succeed beyond our borders,” she says.
The Footwear Retail Buyer Showcase will bring together manufacturers and retail buyers to facilitate direct commercial engagement, product showcasing and potential sourcing arrangements. It forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen localisation and deepen
collaboration between producers and retailers within the sector.
The initiative contributes to broader government and industry efforts under the South African Retail-Clothing, Textile, Footwear and Leather (R-CTFL) Master Plan 2030, aimed at supporting competitiveness, supplier development and increased local procurement
within the sector.
On 1 July 2026, participating manufacturers will present their product ranges and production capabilities to invited retailers and sourcing teams, followed by a Networking Dinner and Panel Discussion.
On 2 July 2026, selected buyers will undertake factory visits to gain practical insight into production systems, compliance standards and manufacturing capacity.
The engagements are expected to strengthen commercial relationships, improve visibility for local manufacturers, and support new sourcing opportunities within the footwear value chain.
Enquiries:
Bongani Lukhele
Director: Media Relations
Tel: 012 394 1643
Cell: 079 508 3457
WhatsApp: 074 299 8512
E-mail: BLuk...@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by Department of Trade, Industry and Competition
International-Solidarity
SACP message of solidarity with the people of Venezuela following devastating earthquakes which have killed about 2000, injured 5,000 and displaced 12,000
Mbulelo Mandlana, SACP Head of Media, Communications and Information, 1 July 2026
The South African Communist Party (SACP) conveys its message of solidarity to the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela following last week’s devastating double earthquake, which has led to the death of close to 2,000 people, over 5,000 people injured, over 12,000 displaced, and 2,500 buildings damaged, among many other forms of destruction.
The SACP reiterates its message of condolences to the families of those who have been killed and wishes speedy recovery to the injured.
Additionally, the SACP conveys its heartfelt gratitude to the various forms of humanitarian aid pledged to the Venezuelan people, including the more than 20 international delegations that have been arriving in Venezuela to pledge their support. We appreciate efforts by South African organisations who are mobilising donations for the Venezuelan people.
Despite the over 66-year-old US blockade on the Socialist Republic of Cuba, in their true internationalist spirit, the Cuban people were among the first to lend their practical solidarity to the Venezuelan people. On Sunday, a special search-and-rescue brigade from Cuba arrived in Venezuela to reinforce the work that was already being carried out by Cuban healthcare workers, who joined the effort to save lives from the very beginning.
Countries from the Global South, including Brics members China and India, have also pledged their solidarity. Additionally, while still beleaguered by the devastating US-Israel imperialist war against its people, the Islamic Republic of Iran has also pledged humanitarian aid as well as the dispatching of search-and-rescue teams to aid the Venezuelan people.
In total, more than 2000 rescuers from 27 countries, along with over 160 dogs, are frantically searching for people beneath the rubble.
It is important to remember that, as the Venezuelan people are now faced with one of the worst disasters in recent memory, they were already facing a paralysing aggression led from the north by US imperialism. Since 2005, the people of Venezuela have suffered and fought against sanctions imposed by the US imperialist regime, greatly impacting on their national development. Additionally, in 2017, some US allies, including the European Union and the United Kingdom, also imposed sanctions on Venezuela after failing to remove the democratically elected government, first under President Hugo Chávez and, after his death in March 2013, under President Nicolás Maduro. The US under Donald Trump illegally invaded Venezuela in January 2026 and abducted President Nicolas Maduro, to whom we reiterate our solidarity – as well as our solidarity with the people of Venezuela.
These imperialist-driven hindrances to Venezuela’s progress are now affecting Venezuela’s capacity to save the lives of those still under the rubble as well as providing emergency medical care to those who need it. As such, the deaths and injuries are also to be attributed to the paralysing machinations propagated by the imperialist US government.
In light of the devastation faced by the people of Venezuela, the SACP calls upon our government and others across the world who value the importance of justice and peace to do everything reasonably possible to provide all forms of practical assistance to the people of Venezuela both as they mourn their loved ones and as they seek to rebuild their country after this latest devastation. We also reiterate our solidarity with the people of Venezuela in the defence of their national sovereignty and the right to self-determination against US imperialist aggression.
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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Garment workers in Indonesia, Cambodia and Bangladesh learn to use human rights law as a union tool
30 June, 2026
Trade union representatives from Indonesia, Cambodia and Bangladesh gathered in Jakarta from 23 to 26 June to learn how to use mandatory human rights due diligence legislation
to organize, bargain and hold global manufacturers accountable.
The workshop, convened by the HRDD Competence Centre in partnership with IndustriALL Global Union, is the first in a three-part pilot series targeting unions linked to global manufacturers Coats, Crystal International and Pou Chen.
IndustriALL textiles and garment director Christina Hajagos-Clausen said:
“For too long, due diligence has been a conversation between companies and regulators. This pilot puts workers and their unions at the centre of that process, with the knowledge and tools to hold employers accountable under the law.”
From classroom to factory floor
The three-day session brought together shop stewards, legal and paralegal staff, organizers and union leadership and put a direct question to them: how do you use the German Supply Chain Act, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the OECD
Guidelines as practical tools?
By the end of the workshop, all three country delegations could identify which instruments applied to their employers, had mapped supply chains using Open Supply Hub and the SOMO CSDDD Data Hub and had begun developing strategies combining national and transnational
action pathways.
“It is a critical time to support workers with building the tools to put new trade and due diligence laws to work for workers. We can already see how countries such as Indonesia are creating and implementing new laws on forced labour and mandatory human rights
due diligence. Workers play a critical role in ensuring safe and secure supply chains. As a centre, we support the global labour movement, to assume their seats at key decision-making tables,”
said Competence Centre executive director, Kelly Fay Rodriguez.
What comes next
The pilot continues in Bangladesh in October 2026 and concludes in Cambodia in January 2027, with findings presented in April 2027.
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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