Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 15 October 2026 #Cosatu15thCongress
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY COSATU Call Center Contacts: 010 002 2590 #COSATU concludes its reconvened 15th National Congress at Kempton Park… #Cosatu15thCongress “Building a Militant, Revolutionary Movement and Strengthening Anti-Imperialist Working-Class Unity to Deepen Jobs and Advance Socialism” #WorkerControl #NationaActionAgainstCostOfLiving Campaign continues… #ClassWar #Cosatu40 #SACTU70 #ClassStruggle #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
15 October 2026
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- NEHAWU congratulates COSATU on a successful 15th National Congress
- South Africa
- POPCRU mourns the passing of SACCAWU General Secretary, Comrade Mduduzi Mbongwe
- COSATU welcomes Minister Creecy's intervention and urges further Fuel Levy relief for embattled commuters
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- USB: These days, ILVA workers are fighting with determination to defend more than 15,000 jobs.
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics #ClassWar
NEHAWU
congratulates COSATU on a successful 15th National Congress
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, October 15, 2026
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] congratulates the Congress of South African Trade Unions [COSATU] on convening a successful 15th National Congress, from the 12- 14 October 2026, at Emperors Palace.
The Congress was held under the theme: “Building a Militant, Revolutionary Labour Movement and Strengthening Anti-Imperialist Working-Class Unity to Defend Jobs and Advance Socialism.”
The congress took place at a time when the world is confronted by difficult challenges. Principal among these is the complete failure of the capitalist system in responding to challenges facing humanity and the working class has had to endure miseries and suffocation brought about by the failures of the inhumane system of capitalism.
Hence, the importance of COSATU remain true to the principles of class struggle and international solidarity and reaffirming its loyalty to this great internationalist tradition as well as recommitting itself to building a militant, class-oriented trade union movement capable of confronting the offensive of capitalism.
Indeed, the congress was characterised by robust and frank discussions on how to rebuild COSATU and ensure that it continues championing the interests of workers against the super exploitative employers.
We applaud delegates for their discipline and constructive deliberations on rebuilding COSATU, strengthening workplace organisation and intensifying the struggle against capitalist exploitation.
The resolutions adopted provide an important programme of action to strengthen the ability of COSATU to be a militant, fighting and a campaigning federation for workers’ demands in all sectors and remain unwavering in its pursuit of waging a relentless struggle in defence of workers and the working-class
We congratulate the newly elected leadership collective and wish it well in discharging its responsibilities, whilst working with affiliates to strengthen COSATU.
As NEHAWU, we welcome the reaffirmation of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) as the minimum programme towards socialism and our correct resolution to support the vanguard party [SACP] in the forthcoming local government elections. We remain committed to building worker unity, working-class unity, advancing ideological and political training as a strategy to strengthen class consciousness as a critical and essential instrument in the struggle for fundamental social, political and economic transformation.
We further welcome the congress's commitment to defend collective bargaining, intensify the living wage campaign, oppose retrenchments and outsourcing, and confront austerity measures that undermine public services and deepen inequality. The struggle for decent work, improved wages, job security and quality public services must remain central to the federation's programme.
We particularly welcome COSATU's reaffirmation of support for implementing the National Health Insurance Act and strengthening public healthcare through filling vacancies, improving conditions of service and absorbing Community Health Workers. We also welcome commitments to gender transformation, equal representation and intensified action against gender-based violence and harassment.
We welcome the reaffirmation to international working-class solidarity and anti-imperialism, including solidarity with the people of Palestine, Cuba, Western Sahara and Eswatini.
Lastly, as NEHAWU, we are committed to working alongside COSATU and her affiliates to implement the congress resolutions, rebuild the organisation of Elijah Barayi.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
South Africa #ClassSolidarity
POPCRU mourns the passing of SACCAWU General Secretary, Comrade Mduduzi Mbongwe
Richard Mamabolo, POPCRU National Spokesperson, 15 October 2026
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has learnt with deep sadness of the passing of the General Secretary of the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU), Comrade Mduduzi Mbongwe.
On behalf of the POPCRU National Office Bearers, leadership structures and membership across the country, we convey our heartfelt condolences to the Mbongwe family, the leadership and membership of SACCAWU, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and the broader progressive trade union movement during this difficult time.
Comrade Mbongwe served at the helm of SACCAWU as General Secretary and was part of a leadership collective entrusted with advancing the interests of workers in the commercial, catering, hospitality, tourism and allied sectors. SACCAWU’s own leadership records identify him as its General Secretary, while the union’s work has remained rooted in defending workers against exploitation and in building a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist society.
His passing is therefore not only a loss to SACCAWU, but to the broader labour movement. At a time when workers continue to face unemployment, retrenchments, precarious work, rising living costs, outsourcing, attacks on collective bargaining and growing inequality, the loss of an experienced trade union leader is deeply felt across organised labour.
Comrade Mbongwe’s work was also connected to the broader struggle for international working-class solidarity. SACCAWU’s international relations programme lists him among the National Office Bearers deployed to support the union’s international engagement, including cooperation with global union structures and sister unions confronting similar challenges from multinational employers.
POPCRU will remember Comrade Mbongwe as a fellow trade unionist who occupied an important position of responsibility within a COSATU affiliate and who was part of the collective effort to strengthen worker organisation and advance the interests of the working class.
His passing comes at a time when the unity of organised labour remains of critical importance. It is therefore fitting that, even in mourning, we reaffirm the values that sustain the trade union movement: solidarity, worker unity, collective bargaining, organisational discipline and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of workers and their families.
We extend our solidarity to SACCAWU members across all its regions and sectors, and particularly to its leadership and staff who worked closely with Comrade Mbongwe. We appreciate that the loss of a General Secretary carries both a personal and organisational weight, and we trust that the union will find strength in the solidarity of its members and sister affiliates.
To the Mbongwe family, we extend our deepest sympathies. We recognise that behind the public role of a trade union leader is a family that has shared its loved one with workers and with the demands of the movement.
May you find comfort in knowing that Comrade Mbongwe’s contribution extended beyond his immediate organisational responsibilities and touched the lives of many workers through the broader struggle for dignity and social justice.
POPCRU stands with SACCAWU and the entire COSATU family in this moment of grief.
May Comrade Mduduzi Mbongwe’s contribution to the labour movement remain part of the collective memory of workers, and may his commitment to organisation, solidarity and working-class advancement continue to inspire those who carry the struggle forward.
Our deepest condolences to the Mbongwe family and to SACCAWU.
May his revolutionary soul rest in eternal peace.
Hamba kahle, Comrade Mduduzi Mbongwe.
Issued by POPCRU
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COSATU welcomes Minister Creecy's intervention and urges further Fuel Levy relief for embattled commuters
Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator, 15 October 2026
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) welcomes the Minister for Transport, Ms. Barbara Creecy’s bold intervention to stop yet another Fuel Levy hike and urges further relief for embattled commuters before the next fuel price adjustment at the beginning of November.
Workers and the economy have been reeling from the massive fuel price hikes this past year of over 25% for petrol and 50% for diesel.
These hikes have suffocated economic growth from an already weak 1.4% to 1.2%. They have pushed inflation up to 4.4% and a possible 5% next month. This has led to two painful repo rate hikes plunging workers deeper into unsustainable debt levels. Unemployment has risen to 43.8% over the past two quarters.
These are a direct consequence of the illegal war unleashed in the Persian Gulf this year.
COSATU commends the progressive intervention by the Minister for Transport to reject the callous request by the Road Accident Fund for an insensitive 75 cents per litre or 33% increase in the Fuel Levy. This would have been a devastating blow to millions of workers and commuters and the economy.
It is urgent that the corruption, wasteful expenditure and financial leakages that have become the norm at the RAF are dealt with. The appointment of the RAF’s new Chief Executive Officer is a positive step forward after years of state capture and corruption at the entity, including its reduction to a slush fund to feed the insatiable bank accounts of road accident lawyers.
Government must prioritise the RAF Bill’s retabling at Parliament to resolve the Fund’s structural faultlines, in particular to ensure its limited resources are directed towards providing relief to working class claimants and not the wealthy who can afford private insurance.
Compensation must be structured upon legitimate medical and loss of income claims and not be utilised to subsidise the wealthy and their fancy lawyers’ expensive lifestyles.
The initial fuel levy holiday provided by the African National Congress led government unlocked invaluable relief for struggling commuters and the economy during the outbreak of the war. It reduced inflation by 0.7%.
It is critical that Parliament expedite the passage of the Second Special Appropriation Bill providing R10 billion for the Central Energy Fund’s Equalisation Fund. This will enable government to provide badly needed Fuel Levy relief for commuters. This would reduce inflation and thus the likelihood of yet another devastating repo rate hike at the Reserve Bank’s November Monetary Policy Committee meeting.
For this to happen, Parliament must move with speed to pass the Bill before the end of October.
COSATU will continue to engage with government and Parliament to ensure these progressive interventions are expedited and happen. Workers cannot continue to tighten their belts.
Issued by COSATU
Internationalism-Solidarity
USB: These days, ILVA workers are fighting with determination to defend more than 15,000 jobs.
by WFTU HQ, 15 Oct 2026
In Taranto, for more than three days, workers have been blocking fuel tankers from leaving the ENI sites, which produce more than 105,000 barrels of diesel,
jet fuel, and other fuels daily.
In Genoa, after two days of protest, workers occupied the prefecture and received a partial response.
For over 14 years, successive governments—with the support of the country’s industrial and financial leaders—have abandoned ILVA’s steel plants.
Today, the Meloni government is hiding behind the judiciary, which has been called upon to decide by the end of October whether to close the Taranto plant due to emissions and the presence of asbestos.
Always distinct from other trade unions affiliated with the CSI, the USB is calling for nationalization and state intervention, with the government taking over management of the company to protect jobs, fund the cleanup of pollution sources, and initiate a
green conversion of the steel plants.
There have been too many successive private speculators: billions of euros have ended up in their pockets, while—as was predictable—both the conditions at the sites and those of the workers have worsened. For over a decade, the workers have endured wages reduced
by social safety nets and continue to fall ill and die due to the negligence of their employers.
At present, the government is proposing temporary solutions that postpone the necessary responses; the workers, with the USB at the forefront, are reacting by organizing new days of action and mobilizations.
International competition has intensified with the war, which has exacerbated all factors undermining the conditions of the working class—from the threat to entire industrial sectors to speculation that is decimating wages and pensions.
On October 30, the USB responded to the international call issued by port workers and declared a general strike with demonstrations in every city.
Raise wages and pensions – lay down arms
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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