Taking COSATU Today Forward Special Bulletin, 28 October 2025 #Cosatu@40 #Cosatu40thAnniversary
Norman Mampane
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COSATU TODAY #Cosatu’s Just Transition Global South Exchange session is underway at Boksburg... #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 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
28 October 2025
“Build Working Class Unity for Economic Liberation towards Socialism”
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Contents
- Workers Parliament: Back to Basics!
- Minister Nomakhosazana Meth addresses 2025 Kaizen Conference
- COSATU to host lectures in the lead up to 40th anniversary
- South Africa
- Eastern Cape Provincial Government on newly crowned Miss South Africa 2025 and Miss Universe South Africa
- International-Workers’ Solidarity!
- Statement of Solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) In Defence of Democracy, Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law in Africa
- Ensuring the future of work will require strong unions and global collaboration
- North-Asian education unions mobilised for enhanced solidarity and cooperation to Go Public!
Workers’ Parliament-Back2Basics
Minister Nomakhosazana Meth addresses 2025 Kaizen Conference
27 Oct 2025
Minister Meth calls 2025 Kaizen Conference to rethink and reshape international partnerships
The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, challenged the 2025 Africa Kaizen Conference to rethink and reshape international partnerships.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre today, 27 October 2025, in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, Minister Meth said: “Cooperation must be about co-creation, co-investment, and technology transfer."
Held under the theme “African Industrialisation through Fostering Competitive Firms and Value Chains", the conference is attended by delegates from around the continent with the intention of advancing the quality and productivity improvement (QPI) or Kaizen. The Conference brings together policy makers, academics, and QPI practitioners to share their knowledge and experiences.
Minister Meth told the delegates that Africa does not seek aid but equitable industrial partnerships that build productive capacity, technology ecosystems, and jobs on African soil.
She said Industrialisation must no longer be a dream deferred but must be a coordinated continental project powered by competitive African firms, regional value chains, and technological leapfrogging. In highlighting progress, Meth mentioned Dangote Industries (Nigeria), MTN and Safaricom (South Africa and Kenya), Ethiopia's industrial parks, Morocco, and Egypt as success stories for Africa.
Meth said these are great successes, “but much more still needs to be done. You may agree with me that our young engineers, doctors, coders, and artisans power industries from Silicon Valley to Shanghai – building economies across continents."
Meth told the representatives that Indigenous knowledge systems are blueprints for future sustainability. “We must integrate this knowledge into modern industrial design, environmental science, and sustainable production."
She said the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement aligns perfectly with African values of Ubuntu, collective advancement, and resilience through learning. “It is important, therefore, that productivity must not erase our identity built around indigenous systems, but it must elevate it," she said.
“Let us make productivity our creed, industrialisation our mission, and competitiveness our collective destiny," Minister Meth concluded.
The conference will conclude tomorrow, 28 October, with the presentation of South African Productivity Awards to top-performing companies.
Enquiries:
Teboho Thejane
Departmental Spokesperson
E-mail: teboho....@labour.gov.za
Cell: 082 697 0694
Issued by Department of Employment and Labour
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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:
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
Eastern Cape Provincial Government on newly crowned Miss South Africa 2025 and Miss Universe South Africa
26 Oct 2025
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government proudly congratulates two of the province’s shining stars, Qhawekazi Mazaleni and Mellisa Nayimuli, on their remarkable achievements. The 24-year-old Mazaleni was crowned Miss South Africa 2025 during a glittering ceremony held on Saturday, 25 October 2025, while the 29-year-old Nayimuli was crowned Miss Universe South Africa earlier this week.
These victories not only celebrate their individual excellence but also highlight the talent, beauty, and resilience that continue to emerge from the Eastern Cape.
Qhawe,
as she is fondly known, comes from Dutywa Amathole District Municipality and has built an inspiring profile as a speech therapist, author, and digital creator, using her skills to empower and educate others.
Her passion for inclusive education is reflected in her groundbreaking work, including authoring a children’s book designed to support learners with cerebral palsy. Armed with a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology focusing on Autism, Qhawe continues
to champion accessibility, representation, and equal learning opportunities for all children.
Born and raised in Butterworth by her Xhosa mother and Ugandan father, Mellisa will represent South Africa at the Miss Universe pageant in Thailand next month. The talented model is a film and television producer who has demonstrated remarkable creativity and passion for storytelling, as she has successfully produced her documentary Chosi-Chosi, demonstrating her creative talents.
Their remarkable achievements are a source of immense pride and inspiration for the people of the Eastern Cape and the nation at large. Beyond their beauty and intellect, they have demonstrated a deep commitment to uplifting and driving positive change in society.
Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane has lauded their accomplishments, describing them as a beacon of hope and true ambassadors of the province. “These beauty queens have made the Eastern Cape proud. Their triumph is a celebration of the power of dreams, hard work and perseverance. They represent the spirit of our young people who continue to rise above challenges and shine on national and global platforms. We are confident that they will use this opportunity to inspire others and promote the values of humility, compassion and leadership,” said Premier Mabuyane.
Qhawe and Mellisa follow on the footsteps of the Eastern Cape born Zozibini Tunzi, who in 2019 won the prestigious Miss South Africa title and went on to gain the Nation and the Eastern Cape global recognition by winning Miss Universe.
The Provincial Government extends its heartfelt congratulations to both queens, their families, and all those who have supported their journeys. The Eastern Cape stands firmly behind them as they embark on their exciting chapter, representing the province and South Africa with grace and purpose, indeed Eastern Cape is truly “The Home of Legends”.
Enquiries:
Khuselwa Rantjie
Chief Director: Provincial Communication Services / Government Spokesperson
Cell: 081 028 8841
E-mail: khuselwa...@ecotp.gov.za
Issued by Eastern Cape Provincial Government
International-Solidarity
Statement of Solidarity with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) In Defence of Democracy, Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law in Africa
28 October 2025
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), with over 18 Million African workers, stands in firm solidarity with the Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) in its principled rejection of attempts to mutilate Zimbabwe’s national constitution for the purpose of extending presidential tenure.
Across the continent, African workers have consistently upheld that democracy and constitutionalism form the bedrock of peace, justice, and shared prosperity. Just as we reject military interventions in civil governance, we equally denounce “civilian coups”—when
leaders seek to subvert or overthrow their country’s constitutions to prolong their stay in power. We further condemn all attempts to silence opposition voices, manipulate electoral systems, or stage sham elections designed to entrench authoritarian rule.
These acts—whether executed by force of arms or by political deceit—betray the will of the people and erode the hard-won democratic gains of African societies.
We commend leaders across Africa who have resisted the lure, temptation, and persuasion to alter term limits or manipulate constitutions for personal gain. These leaders remain true statespersons—guardians of constitutional democracy—worthy of respect and reference
by future generations.
However, we must call out and condemn those who have chosen the opposite path: those who dismantle constitutional order and weaken democratic institutions for the sake of political survival. Such actions corrode governance, polarize societies, and expose nations
to instability, insecurity, and economic regression.
ITUC-Africa joins ZCTU in urging African citizens, civil society, and the labour movement to remain vigilant and steadfast in defending the integrity of their constitutions. Societies that work are those governed by the rule of law, not the law of force. When
constitutions are trampled, democracy dies—and with it, the hopes of workers for decent work, social justice, and equitable development.
We therefore call upon all African Union member states, regional economic communities, and global partners to reaffirm the sanctity of constitutional rule and democratic responsive accountable governance as indispensable pillars of Africa’s transformation agenda.
Democracy must not be for convenience—it must be for conviction.
Akhator Joel Odigie
General Secretary, ITUC-Africa
Lomé, Togo
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Ensuring the future of work will require strong unions and global collaboration
28 October, 2025
Industry 4.0, automation and the future of work were the focus of recent discussions between representatives of Uruguayan manufacturing unions and Germany’s IG Metall, with those present agreeing that global unity and solidarity would be needed to ensure fairer working conditions in future.
Representatives of IndustriALL Global Union affiliates in Uruguay – the National Union of Metal and Allied Workers (UNTMRA), the Tanners' Union (UOC) and the Federation of Paper, Pulp and Cardboard Workers (FOPCCU) – along with leaders from Uruguay’s PIT-CNT Confederation of Manufacturing Unions (CSI) and IG Metall Germany all took part in the day-long meeting. Their aim was to analyse collective strategies and encourage international cooperation in the response to the challenges brought by technological, productive and geopolitical changes in both Europe and Latin America. The event was held at IndustriALL regional office in Montevideo, with presentations by Angélica Jiménez Romo, an IG Metall delegate; María Losada, from Germany’s international cooperation agency, GIZ; and IndustriALL regional secretary Marino Vani.
Jiménez Romo explained that Germany has a robust union model, with a small number of unions covering a large number of members and subsectors, an approach that makes the unions stronger. When it comes to labour-market changes, she stressed that shorter working hours should be made possible through technological advancements and not by taking away workers’ rights.
In terms of the future of work and Industry 4.0, she argued that machines must work for people and that wealth must be more evenly distributed. It was also necessary to rethink the production and union model in response to digitalization.
Danilo Dárdano, CSI chairman, presented a report on Uruguayan trade unions and the tough manufacturing landscape in which they operate, with factory closures and declining production. In addition, he spoke about the recommendations that the CSI is promoting alongside the Government in order to revive the sector. Union representatives also stressed the need to diversify production.
Prior to the meeting, the German delegation and IndustriALL representatives met with workers at a UNTMRA foundry in the Industrial Technology Park in Cerro – a working class neighbourhood grappling with social issues. Workers (50 per cent of them women and 50 per cent men) who had lost their jobs are now recycling old lighting equipment, converting it into aluminium ingots for the manufacture of various parts and components.
Jiménez Romo said that the meeting had been extremely useful:
“The world is changing so much and it’s important to get first-hand information so that we have a clear understanding of how to move forward in supporting the working class. Our two regions have very close cultural ties and we must take advantage of them in
seeking common strategies.”
IndustriALL Latin America regional secretary, Marino Vani, summed up by saying:
“We’ve managed to build a stronger identity among our affiliates in Uruguay, in cooperation with workers in the German metalworking industry. As trade unions, we’re now stronger and better equipped to take on the current and future challenges of the world of work.”
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North-Asian education unions mobilised for enhanced solidarity and cooperation to Go Public!
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 Standards and working conditions Go public! Fund education, 28 October 2025
Leaders of Education International (EI) member organisations across North Asia have committed to “organise, organise, organise; day and night” and pledged to “strengthen solidarity across North Asia and to lay the foundations for ongoing cooperation.”
Teacher union leaders from Japan, Mongolia, South Korea, and Taiwan came together on October 23 and 24 in Seoul under the banner of the EI Go Public! Fund Education campaign.
Common issues
Describing their own major challenges, education leaders were surprised to discover the commonality of issues teachers are being confronted with in each of the four represented countries. They were left with no doubt that the shrinking of education budgets, and consequently the underinvestment in teachers and public education, was the root cause of teacher shortages and burnout.
Tackling uncompetitive pay, reducing class sizes, and addressing an ever-increasing workload, particularly driven by an out-of-control administrative burden and the need to deal systematically with deteriorating teachers’ mental health and well-being, were high on the unions’ list of priorities. An identified common, and deeply concerning, issue for teachers in Taiwan and South Korea is for instance a serious escalation in the number of malicious complaints against teachers.
Implementing the United Nations Recommendations in Taiwan
The National Teachers Association (NTA) of Taiwan stated that "our priority campaign issues aimed at addressing excessive workload and teacher well-being are reflected in the United Nations Recommendations calling on governments to support teachers by fully funding education, to respect the teaching profession by protecting teachers against malicious complaints, to improve working conditions by engaging teachers in decision-making and negotiations, and to raise the status of teachers. All these steps are necessary to achieve quality public education for all children at all education levels”, the union said. The NTA concerns about teacher mental health and well-being, which is being undermined by malicious complaints against teachers and excessive workload because of the ever-increasing administrative burden, are shared by colleagues across North Asia.
The NTA insisted that “we'll take the campaign as a platform of opportunities to support each other in realising the UN Recommendations that strengthen our campaigns in the subregion.”
Restoring respect for teachers and rebuilding the foundation of public education in Korea
The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) explained that it stands firm in its commitment to the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, addressing the urgent need for sustainable investment in quality public education. KTU’s priorities focus on protecting teachers from malicious complaints through legislative reform, securing teachers’ participation and political rights in policymaking, and promoting democracy through genuine social dialogue.
“We call for laws that ensure reasonable class sizes and adequate staffing, strengthen teacher welfare, and advance human-centred education that empowers learners toward curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning—not merely through technology, but through meaningful human relationships. ‘Honor Teachers, Bring Them Back to Students’—this is our collective pledge to restore respect for teachers and rebuild the foundation of public education for all,” explained KTU president Younghwan Park.
Increasing teachers’ salary in Mongolia
The Federation of Mongolian Teachers and Science Unions (FMESU), already on its ninth day of a nationwide strike urging the government of Mongolia to increase the teacher basic salary to 3.5 million tugriks (around 840 euros), reported that over 558 education institutions and around 30,000 education personnel have joined the strike so far.
The government has proposed to increase the teacher salary gradually from 2026 until 2028, reaching the demanded 3.5 million tugrik by 2028. The proposal was rejected by the FMESU as it fell well short of the union demands. With the teacher salary representing only 40% of the salary of a bus driver, urgent action is needed to lift the teacher salary if we are to attract and retain the teachers we need, the FMESU representative noted.
Campaigning for greater investment in education in Japan
The Go Public! Fund Education campaign was enthusiastically embraced by the Japan Teachers Union (JTU). With a declining education budget over the last 10 years, the UN Recommendations, as well as the Santiago Consensus, have allowed JTU to be more focused in the pursuit of their goal, which is to achieve greater investment in education. To that end, the UN Recommendation calling on governments to invest 6% of GDP and 20% of the national budget in education provides a clear and easily understood narrative. This helped raise the JTU’s profile across the teaching force, resulting in the union seeing a growth in new members in 2025.
All education unions participating in this Go Public! event left with a reinvigorated commitment to ensure greater investment in quality public inclusive education and educators in North Asia.
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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