Taking COSATU Today Forward, 4 December 2025 #Cosatu40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary #HappyBirthdayNUM #HappyBirthdayCosatu

[Norman Mampane]

 

COSATU TODAY #HappyBirthdayNUM #HappyBirthdayCOSATU! #CosatuGolfDay is underway at Johannesburg Country Club, Woodmead #Cosatu40 #VioletSeboniBrigade #Cosatu40thAnniversary #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

‘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

4 December 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!

Ø  NUM Highveld Region demands justice: Mass solidarity rally for murdered Evander Gold Mine Leader in Delmas High Court

• COSATU embarks on a 40^th Anniversary Final Push at Soweto townships this week

• Swinging for Dignity: COSATU and President Ramaphosa Tee Off for a Cause

• Applications for media accreditation to cover COSATU 40^th Anniversary rally officially opened

• South Africa
• COSATU presented its submission on the Division of Revenue Amendment and Adjustments Appropriation Bills to Parliament
• International-Workers’ Solidarity!
• Employment in the circular economy

Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics  

NUM Highveld Region demands justice: Mass solidarity rally for murdered Evander Gold Mine Leader in Delmas High Court

 

Livhuwani Mamburuu, NUM National Spokesperson, 03 December 2025

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) Highveld Region is calling for a massive show of solidarity as the murder trial for former Evander Gold Mine Branch Secretary, Comrade John Simelane, continues. Simelane was fatally assassinated in a cold-blooded attack in 2017. The NUM demands that the court deliver justice and that those allegedly linked to the rival union are held accountable.

 

This case is a painful, prolonged reminder of the extreme violence and intimidation faced by worker leaders in the mining sector. The continued delays and the fact that the accused remain out on bail are viewed by the NUM as an affront to justice and an attempt to weaken the union's resolve. The NUM's presence is crucial to reject violence and ensure the integrity of the judicial process.

 

NUM Highveld Regional Leadership, NUM members, Branch Committees, Shop Stewards, COSATU affiliates, and progressive formations.

 

DETAILS OF THE COURT APPEARANCE

Detail		Information
DATE:		Thursday, 04 December 2025
TIME:		09H00
VENUE:		Delmas High Court
ACTION:		Mass Solidarity Rally/Court Gallery Filling

 

 

CALL TO MEDIA: Media is invited to cover the solidarity action outside the courthouse and the proceedings inside. The NUM Leadership will be available for comment to articulate the union’s demand for justice and an end to the culture of violence against trade unionists.

 

 

For detailed information, please contact:

 

Name		Role		Contact Number
Prince Nkadimeng		NUM Highveld Region Deputy Secretary		079 515 4651

 

 

General Information:

•            Address: National Union Of Mineworkers, 7 Rissik Street, Cnr Frederick, Johannesburg

•            Web: www.num.org.za

•            Twitter: @Num_Media

•            Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/100860023402167

__________________

COSATU embarks on a 40^th Anniversary Final Push at Soweto townships this week

Thabo Mahlangu, COSATU National Organising Secretary, 1 December 2025

Soweto targeted Areas (Mobilisation Blitz)		Expected Attendees		Date		Time
Emndeni, Jabulani and Zola		All national office bearers of affiliates All national organizers of affiliates All provincial office bearers in Gauteng Province All National organisers of affiliates.		2nd December 2025		10h00 until13h00
Orlando West and Meadowlands		All national office bearers of affiliates All national organizers of affiliates All provincial office bearers in Gauteng Province All National organisers of affiliates.		3rd December 2025		10h00 until 13h00
Bara Mall and Bara Taxi Rank		All national office bearers of affiliates All national organizers of affiliates All provincial office bearers in Gauteng Province All National organisers of affiliates.		4th December 2025		11h00 until 13h00
Dobsonville and Braamfischer Motorcade		All national office bearers of affiliates All national organizers of affiliates All provincial office bearers in Gauteng Province All National organisers of affiliates.		5th December 2025		11h00 until 13h00

 

Details for assembly are table below:

Dates :         2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th November 2025

Time :         09h00 – 14h00

Venue :         Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto

Resources required: Minimum of 5 cars from each affiliate 

_______________________________

Swinging for Dignity: COSATU and President Ramaphosa Tee Off for a Cause

Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 24 November 2025

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is thrilled to announce its second annual Charity Golf Challenge, an inspiring event where labour, business and government unite on the green for a great cause. Members of the media are warmly invited to attend and cover this unique blend of sport, leadership and social impact.

This flagship initiative is more than a Corporate Social Investment project — it is a powerful demonstration of COSATU’s unwavering commitment to social justice and restoring dignity in communities beyond the workplace.

In a true celebration of Ubuntu, President Cyril Ramaphosa will join COSATU leaders, government departments and business partners on the golf course to help raise funds for its activities, school shoes and sanitary packs for underprivileged learners. Every swing will contribute to changing a child’s school experience and supporting their confidence and wellbeing.

Join us for a remarkable day of purpose-driven play:

COSATU Charity Golf Challenge

• Date: Thursday, 04 December 2025
• Presidential Tee off: 10:40
• Participants Tee off: 11:00 (Shotgun Start)
• Venue: Country Club Johannesburg (CCJ Woodmead)

The challenge will be followed by an elegant Gala Dinner at 18.30, where the day’s achievements will be celebrated and partners honoured.

Members of the media wishing to attend are invited to send their details to non...@cosatu.org.za

Issued by COSATU

_________________________

Applications for media accreditation to cover COSATU 40^th Anniversary rally officially opened

Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson,10 November 2025

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) invites all members of the media to apply for accreditation to attend and cover the Federation’s historic 40^th Anniversary rally. This momentous event is scheduled to take place on 6 December at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.

COSATU was launched on 1 December 1985, at the height of the struggle against apartheid. Its formation brought together 33 competing unions and federations that were opposed to apartheid but committed to a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic South Africa. 

Alliance partners, local and international guests have been invited to celebrate 40 years of this vibrant movement advancing, defending and protecting the interests and rights of workers and the working class in South Africa and beyond. 

Applications for accreditation may be submitted to mam...@cosatu.org.za or non...@cosatu.org.za with the following details:

Name:
Surname:
ID number: 
Media House/Address:
Contact number/email: 

Alternatively, an application form can be completed via this link:

COSATU 40th Anniversary Media Accreditation Application Form – Fill out form

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela (National Spokesperson)

Mobile:  079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zan...@cosatu.org.za

South Africa

COSATU presented its submission on the Division of Revenue Amendment and Adjustments Appropriation Bills to Parliament

Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 03 December 2025

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) presented its submission on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement’s Division of Revenue Amendment (DORA) and Adjustments Appropriation Bills allocating additional funding to provincial and local government and national departments to Parliament’s Select Committee: Appropriations.

 

COSATU remains deeply concerned with government’s overall neo-liberal approach to the Budget.  Workers have borne the brunt of austerity cuts to frontline public services that the working class and economy depend upon.  We are extremely distressed by the state of local government where mismanagement, corruption, underfunding and failures to collect rates have seen workers unpaid and basic services deteriorate. 

 

Whilst we do not believe that the DORA and the Adjustments Appropriation Bills go far enough to ensure that public services are sufficiently resourced or that local government is set on the path to recovery, there are positive supplementary allocations allocated by the African National Congress led government that COSATU welcomes, in particular:

 

• R2.7 billion to commence the roll out of Early Childhood Development at public schools and R454 million to repair schools damaged by natural disasters in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
• R2.06 billion to boost municipal electricity and water services in the metros and R1.9 billion to repair municipal infrastructure damaged by natural disasters in the Eastern Cape.
• R150 million for road repairs in the Eastern Cape and R303 million for public transport eThekwini.
• R856 million for the National Health Insurance Indirect Grant and revitalising health facilities as well as for building hospitals and clinics in the Western Cape, Free State and Limpopo.
• R450 million to expand Public Employment Stimulus programmes in the metros.
• R2.1 billion additional funding for the SRD Grant.
• R2.8 billion to reinforce Home Affairs’ capacity and civic services.
• R991 for communications infrastructure investments.
• R824 million for upgrading informal settlements.
• R1.2 billion to support emerging farmers and land reform.
• R1.8 billion to boost the deployment of the South African National Defence Force and Landward Defence.
• R600 million to ease the courts’ backlogs and R556 million to boost the South African Police Service.

 

Whilst welcoming these progressive allocations to invest in public and municipal services and provide relief for the poor, we are deeply concerned by several glairing setbacks in the MTBPS and the Bills, in particular:

 

• Not adjusting the SRD Grant for inflationary erosion and setting a path to raise it to the Food Poverty Line over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
• R40 million cuts to the Department of Employment and Labour’s inspectorate whilst millions of workers’ rights are routinely violated and no additional funding for the CCMA despite the flood of cases facing it.
• No additional allocations to the Departments of Electricity and Energy plus Trade, Industry and Competition to cushion distressed companies facing increasingly unaffordable electricity and the imposition of 30% tariffs on South African exports to the United States.
• R4 billion cuts in road infrastructure and maintenance, including through SANRAL.

 

The increasing number of dysfunctional municipalities is extremely alarming.  Whilst appreciating initial interventions to stabilise these municipalities, they are not enough given the extent of the crises facing workers and communities. 

 

More must be done to turn local government around, in particular to ensure municipal staff are paid, debt is collected, basic services are restored and infrastructure maintained.

 

COSATU will continue to engage government on a much bolder, more aggressive set of interventions to be included in the 2026/27 Budget to rebuild public and municipal services, stimulate inclusive economic growth, slash unemployment, and tackle poverty, inequality, crime and corruption. 

 

Investments in public and municipal services must be viewed as a necessary investment in economic growth and decent work.

 

Issued by COSATU

 

International-Solidarity   

Employment in the circular economy

4 December, 2025

Between 121 and 142 million people worldwide are employed in sectors that contribute to the circular economy, such as repair, recycling, second-hand trade and waste management. This represents roughly between 5 and 5.8 percent of total global employment (excluding agriculture), according to a new joint report by Circle Economy, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Bank Group, in partnership with the UN Partnership for Action on Green Economy (UN-PAGE).

The study is the first global analysis of employment in the circular economy and shows that most circular economy activities are concentrated in the Global South. The Americas and Asia and the Pacific regions report the highest shares of circular employment, at 6.4 percent and 5.8 percent respectively. 

More than half of all circular economy workers—over 74 million people—are employed in the informal economy, where jobs are not regulated and lack state protection. This is particularly prevalent in the Global South, leaving many of the workers driving sustainable development and caring for our planet among the most disadvantaged. They often face precarious working conditions, unstable incomes, and low wages. 

“This report is a strategic tool for trade unions. It provides solid evidence to anticipate the impacts of the circular economy on employment and will empowers us to demand industrial and labour policies that ensure a real Just Transition. Now it is time for changes in production and consumption models, but those have to be built with and for workers,”

says Diana Junquera Curiel, IndustriALL director for Just Transition and member of the advisory board for the Circular Employment Global Baseline. 

Titled Employment in the Circular Economy: Leveraging circularity to create decent work, the study aims to equip policymakers and decision-makers with data and practical tools to accelerate a just and job-rich transition to the circular economy.

“With this report, we are casting a new light on the businesses and workers that every day in every country and every sector of our economies provide essential services for our societies and planet,”

says Casper Edmonds, head of the extractives, energy & manufacturing Unit at the ILO.

“Some are at the forefront of innovation. But for many, circularity is not a choice, but a way of getting by. If we combine investments in circularity with measures to advance decent work, we accelerate a just and job-rich transition to the circular economy.”

A selection of sectors dominate circular economy employment. Repair and maintenance account for nearly half (46 per cent), followed by manufacturing (24.5 percent) and waste management (8 per cent). By contrast, industries that are crucial to advancing the circular transition—such as construction and mining—have a very low share of circular employment. The report stresses the need for targeted policies to ‘green’ jobs in these sectors and accelerate their transition toward a circular economy. 

The findings call on policymakers to integrate workers’ rights and social protections into circular economy strategies. Too often, environmental legislation prioritises climate goals while neglecting the social dimension and the people driving the transition.

To ensure a just transition to the circular economy, the report recommends:

Promoting circularity through public procurement and investment in high-potential sectors like manufacturing and construction

Supporting sustainable enterprises through access to finance, business development services and capacity-building programmes

Developing inclusive educational programmes with a focus on youth, informal workers and women

Enforcing occupational safety and health standards, extending social protection to informal workers and upholding fundamental labour rights

Strengthening data ecosystems at local, national, and international levels to monitor and assess circular economy activities and related employment trends

______________________________

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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