Taking COSATU Today Forward, 30 September 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Cosatu40Anniversary celebration events are taking place in provinces…. #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
30 September 2025
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- COSATU Gauteng Statement on the meeting with Premier Lesufi
- NUM President Calls for Educational Reform to Empower Workers
- COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th anniversary
- South Africa
- COSATU welcomes the SIU interim report on Tembisa Hospital
- NEHAWU statement on the SIU Interim Report on Tembisa Hospital investigation
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Women trade unionists prepare ground for equality ahead of Sydney
- World Day for Decent Work: For democracy that delivers decent work
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
COSATU Gauteng Statement on the meeting with Premier Lesufi
Louisah Modikwe, COSATU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, 29 September 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Gauteng convened a meeting with Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, last Friday at COSATU House.
The meeting discussed the GPG programme of action, state of municipalities, job creation, G20 preparations and GPG progress report since the State of the Province Address delivered by the Premier on 24 February.
The discussions were cordial and sought to build the foundation of working together to implement the government programs of action, accountability by both parties toward service delivery and the stability of the province.
The meeting agreed that while forging a working relationship, each party had a different mandate that should be respected.
The meeting engaged on the challenges in all municipalities, and COSATU was assured that service delivery challenges are gradually being addressed through the implementation of the G13 challenges and collective bargaining issues are also being dealt with.
The Nasi Ispani Reloaded was also discussed at length and COSATU welcomed its conceptualisation. The meeting noted the work done on insourcing of outsourced services, and COSATU welcomed the commitment by the Premier that all security officers who have been in government departments for long periods while employed by private security companies would not be worse off. COSATU was excited that Premier Lesufi undertook not to renew private security companies’ contracts when they lapse to allow for smooth insourcing.
Having addressed all issues on the agenda, it was agreed that the people of Gauteng depend on government for services and these services are provided by workers, the majority of whom are members of COSATU.
A program of action which includes but not limited to quarterly meetings with the Premier and his Executive to receive quarterly progress reports on the implementation of the Gauteng 13 problems, workers’ labour relations challenges, convening of the labour summit and joint preparations of the G20 summit.
Issued by COSATU Gauteng
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NUM President Calls for Educational Reform to Empower Workers
28 September 2025
Mopani, Limpopo — The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) President, Phillip Vilakazi, addressed attendees at the union's International Literacy Day celebration at Mopani TVET College, emphasizing the critical role of education in overcoming historical injustices and preparing for a changing economy.
Speaking to a crowd that included fellow union members and community partners, Vilakazi connected the ongoing struggle for workers' rights to the need for accessible education. He began his speech by referencing powerful words from Nelson Mandela and Malcolm X, stating, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," and "Without education, you're not going anywhere in this world."
The NUM President's address focused on the union's legacy of fighting for worker empowerment, noting its role in the 1955 Freedom Charter, which advocated for free education for all. Vilakazi lamented the educational disparities caused by apartheid, which he said kept Black African workers in a state of "educational disability" and focused on physical labor rather than skill development.
"We need to connect history perfectly to avoid repeating same mistakes which have got a potential to regress every gains of our struggle," Vilakazi said. He highlighted the union's efforts to combat illiteracy through programs like the ABE/T system, which offered after-school classes for members and helped many become "senior citizens of note."
In his speech, Vilakazi also stressed the need for education to adapt to modern economic realities. He pointed to the shift from manual work to digital processes, noting that technologies like emails, mobile banking, and social media require a new kind of literacy and access. He called on employers to be ready to empower their workers across the NUM's footprint with the necessary training and skills.
The event celebrated International Literacy Day, an observance championed by UNESCO since 1967 to raise global awareness of literacy's importance. The NUM's long-standing partnership with organizations like the MQA (Mining Qualifications Authority) was also acknowledged as crucial to their mission of promoting academic empowerment among workers.
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COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th anniversary
Zanele Sabela, COSATU National Spokesperson, 25 September 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is set the host a series of lectures in the lead up to its 40th anniversary celebration at Dobsonville Stadium on 6 December.
The culmination of four years of unity talks, COSATU came into being on 1 December 1985, and brought together 33 competing unions and federations opposed to apartheid and whose common goal was to bring about a non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
The Federation has been at the forefront of advancing, defending and protecting the interests and rights of workers since, and has led in the formation of the country’s progressive labour laws including workers’ rights to form trade unions, collective bargaining and to strike, minimum conditions of service, National Minimum Wage, etc.
From its vehement resistance of apartheid to the ushering in of the democratic dispensation and improving the economic and social wellbeing of the working class 31 years post democracy, COSATU has stood the test of time.
In the lead up to its 40th anniversary in December, the Federation will host a variety of activities starting with a series of lectures by its National Office Bearers.
The lectures will tackle diverse subjects from COSATU’s pivotal role in gender struggles to the strike that broke the back of industry-wide exploitative labour practices as far back as 1959.
Province:
KwaZulu Natal
Date:
30 September
Venue: Playhouse, Durban
Topic: History that led to the formation of COSATU
Main Speaker: Mike Shingange, COSATU 1st Deputy President
Province:
Western Cape
Date:
30 September
Venue: SACTWU Hall, Salt River
Topic: Rebuilding worker power in the service sector: Organising in an age of precarity Main Speaker: Solly Phetoe, COSATU General Secretary
Province: Mpumalanga
Date: 16 October
Venue: Ikhethelo Secondary School, Bethal
Topic: Gert Sibande Potato Boycott
Main Speaker: Duncan Luvuno, COSATU 2nd Deputy President
Province:
Free State
Date:
3 October
Topic: COSATU and the International Struggle
Main Speaker: Gerald Twala, COSATU Deputy General Secretary
Province:
Northern Cape
Date:
30 October
Topic: COSATU and the Liberation Movement
Main Speaker: Solly Phetoe, COSATU General Secretary
Province:
North-West
Date:
19 November
Topic: Strengthening Industrial Unions to build a militant COSATU
Main Speaker: Duncan Luvuno, COSATU 2nd Deputy President
Province:
Eastern Cape
Date:
20 November
Topic: COSATU and the Reconfiguration of the Alliance
Main Speaker: Mike Shingange, COSATU 1st Deputy President
Province:
Gauteng
Date:
21 November
Topic: COSATU and the Mass Democratic Movement
Main Speaker: Zingiswa Losi, COSATU President
Issued by COSATU
COSATU welcomes the SIU interim report on Tembisa Hospital
Louisah Modikwe, COSATU Gauteng Provincial Secretary, 29 September 2025
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Gauteng welcomes the revelations of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report that more than R2 billion was looted through procurement irregularities, fraud and corruption at Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng, and the recommendations thereof.
The SIU has referred 116 officials for disciplinary action and is working with the National Prosecuting Authority to recover assets and pursue criminal charges.
The corruption at Tembisa Hospital has had devastating consequences for both healthcare workers and patients, undermining trust, safety, and service delivery in one of Gauteng’s busiest public hospitals. This kind of occurrence demoralises honest staff members and leaves them fearful and disillusioned, especially after the assassination of whistleblower Babita Deokaran. Moreover, workers who rely on timely delivery of medical supplies and services were forced to operate in a system riddled with fake vendors and undelivered goods.
Funds meant for essentials such as medication, equipment, and infrastructure were siphoned off, directly affecting patient care and outcomes, and likely resulted in delayed care for patients, longer queues, and reduced access to specialists and procedures. There’s no denying that corruption has led to the collapse of public services, which has in turn contributed to taxpayer disillusionment.
COSATU Gauteng applauds the good work done by the SIU and calls for law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to ensure that the full might of law is brought to bear against the corrupt and officials who seek to benefit from the poorest of the poor and ensure that justice prevails.
COSATU calls on the MEC of Health, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, and Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, to act decisively and urgently on maleficence. We further call for fair disciplinary processes for all staff members who are alleged to have participated in this scandal.
Issued by: COSATU Gauteng Provincial Office
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NEHAWU statement on the SIU Interim Report on Tembisa Hospital investigation
Zola Saphetha, NEHAWU General Secretary, September 29, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] welcomes the release of the Special Investigative Unit [SUI] Interim Report on the Tembisa Hospital Investigation.
The interim report has detailed how resources of the state amounting to R2 billion were plundered through acts of corruption, fraud, maladministration and procurement fraud, money laundering, collusion, and bid rigging at Tembisa Hospital.
As NEHAWU, we find it deplorable that much needed resources were looted brazenly in such a manner, whereas, these resources could have been properly channelled towards ensuring that healthcare workers were provided with the necessary resources in their fight against COVID-19 at the peak of the pandemic.
Our members and healthcare workers succumbed to the pandemic as a result of the lack of proper and sufficient resources, yet hospital officials, government officials and syndicates were looting resources unashamedly.
The money that has been looted could have been used to address the many challenges that confront the healthcare system in our country, which include amongst others; the shortage of staff and improving the state of our public health infrastructure to create safe and healthy working conditions for our members and provide to quality healthcare services to our communities.
We welcome that SIU has referred matters to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for corruption involving officials of the GDOH or the Tembisa Hospital and implicated service providers of the Tembisa Hospital. Furthermore, that the SIU will institute civil proceedings to freeze and recover monies looted by officials and service providers.
Lastly, we call on our law enforcement agencies to work with speed to bring to book all those involved in the squandering of public resources.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
International-Solidarity
Women trade unionists prepare ground for equality ahead of Sydney
29 September, 2025
IndustriALL preparatory women’s conference set the stage for a stronger push on gender equality, women’s rights, participation and representation ahead of the global women’s conference, under the slogan: we are ALL in for equality, and Congress in Sydney this November.
The online meeting (18 and 19 September), the first step in IndustriALL women’s conference, reviewed progress, exposed persistent challenges and outlined priorities for the next four years. Assistant general secretary, Christina Olivier, urged participants to reflect on achievements, confront obstacles and define future actions to advance gender equality.
“Gender equality is not a battle of the sexes; it is about building unity, strength and inclusivity of all groups. We will not progress without the commitment of everyone, especially leaders, who must share responsibility to build unions that truly represent all workers,”
said Olivier.
During a panel discussion, union sisters shared experiences from their regions: in Morocco, Soumaia Moukir of UMT Textile described long hours, low wages and lack of social benefits in the textile sector; in Norway, Emma Erlansen of NITO highlighted barriers for women in STEM and efforts to inspire girls through the girls in technology programme; in the USA, Randy Pearson of USW’s Women of Steel and Roxanne Brown, USW's international vice president and IndustriALL vice president for North America, warned of political rollbacks on diversity, equity and inclusion and explained how unions are resisting through bargaining, education and activism in the communities.
A presentation by Joyce Maku Appiah of the Public Utility Workers’ Union (PUWU) showed how systemic barriers left women in Ghana earning 34.2 per cent less than men despite legal protections. PUWU negotiated training and education that enabled 360 women cashiers to transition into higher-paid senior roles without job losses, secured benefits during maternity leave and pushed for women’s fair access to promotions and technical jobs. The union’s work demonstrated that closing the gender pay gap required intentional, sustained action backed by research, education and leadership commitment. Ira Laila Budiman from CEMWU in Indonesia, presented the progress and advancement through the negotiation for the adoption and implementation of zero tolerance policies against GBVH in 93 companies across garment, textile, pharma, cement, pulp and paper sectors. In paralell, safe houses for women workers have been established in companies in eight companies, this has led to an increase in reported cases. Employers are taking preventive actions. These facilities connect internal company mechanisms with government institutions for higher-level cases.
In a session on union and IndustriALL priorities, Alejandra Angriman, CNTI CTAA, Argentina, stressed the need to address the unequal burden of unpaid care, recognize care as a human right and redistribute responsibilities across society. Tanja Lehtoranta, PRO, Finland, highlighted the importance of gender-responsive occupational health, particularly on mental health and psychosocial risks, including those linked to domestic violence, noting the need for individualized approaches. Benedicta Opoku-Mensah, PUWU, Ghana, shared how her union integrated gender perspectives in company transitions, securing a 40 per cent quota for women in training programs and achieving gender parity in engineering recruitment.
The meeting examined how to build union power through more inclusive, gender-equal structures, emphasizing the mobilisation and leadership of women. Sanjyot Vadhavkar, SMEFI, India, highlighted the role of IndustriALL India women’s committee in creating safe spaces for networking, mentoring and linking grassroots women with leadership. Mobilizing and recruiting women sometimes requires bold and tailored strategies. In Thailand, the Auto Part and Metal Workers’ Union engaged non-unionized white-collar women through a sports tournament, leading to over 50 new members (Vipawan Boksantea).
Change must be collective, not led by women alone. Engaging men allies is key. ELA, Basque Country, Spain, embraced feminist practices through a participatory process, starting with a diagnostic of structural biases. Aitor Gomez noted this helped members recognize the lack of a true gender perspective, sparking debates that reduced male resistance. It also helped them understand that the aim was not to discriminate against men, but to work together to change patriarchal culture so that both women and men can enjoy greater freedom. Peter Greenberg, IAMAW, IndustriALL Gender Equality Task Force, also stressed the need for training to raise men’s awareness of women’s struggles.
Plenary sessions emphasized inclusive union practices, family-friendly activities, stronger mentoring and government—not workers—assuming responsibility for social protection. Delegates stressed that equality requires men in leadership to share responsibility and unions to represent all workers, including LGBTQI communities.
These outcomes will shape the 3 November women’s conference and feed into the IndustriALL Global Congress, 4–7 November, where women will make up 40 per cent of delegates and young workers will gain representation for the first time. The conference will set IndustriALL 2025–2029 gender equality and women’s rights framework.
Affiliates also pledged to resist the global rollback of women’s rights and strengthen women’s leadership worldwide.
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World Day for Decent Work: For democracy that delivers decent work
26 September 2025
This 7 October, the World Day for Decent Work, trade unions across the world are demanding democracy that delivers decent work, and urgent action to stop the corporate capture of public policy.
Working people demand action to advance the New Social Contract for peace, justice and equality.
At the World Social Summit in 2025, governments must finally commit to tackling the root causes of rising inequality, conflict and social fragmentation. At the heart of the ITUC’s demands is a democracy that works for working people, not for a handful of billionaires.
The ITUC Corporate Underminers of Democracy 2025 report exposed how a growing network of anti-union corporations, far-right billionaires and weapons manufacturers is fuelling war, division and repression, while driving down wages and working conditions. These actors are actively rewriting the rules of the global economy to serve private profit at the expense of people and the planet.
"We are witnessing a billionaire coup against democracy. The people who profit from war, repression and inequality are now using their wealth and influence to control our economies, our governments and our futures."ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle
“Governments must reclaim democracy for the people. The World Social Summit is a moment of truth. We need binding commitments to the New Social Contract: jobs, rights, social protection, equality, and inclusion. Decent work is the foundation of any democracy worth the name.”
The ITUC is calling for:
- The redirection of military spending to fund education, decent work and climate action.
- Comprehensive global tax reform to ensure the richest individuals and corporations pay their fair share.
- A new United Nations framework for disarmament and just transition, integrating peace and sustainability.
- The full implementation of labour rights and living wages in all countries.
- Universal social protection.
“The struggle for decent work is inseparable from the fight for real democracy. This World Day for Decent Work, workers are saying: enough is enough - we demand democracy that delivers”, concluded Luc Triangle.
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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