The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) held a virtual Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on 25 August in preparation for its upcoming Central Committee (CC) from 15 to 18 September.
The Central Committee serves as a mid-term review to assess the Federation’s implementation of the resolutions adopted at its previous Congress. The upcoming CC also takes place in the lead up to COSATU’s 40th anniversary to be marked with a celebration at Dobsonville Stadium on 6December.
Regrettably, it also takes place at a time when the country’s economic prospects are grim, with unemployment dangerously high at 42.9%; and even higher among young people aged between 15 and 24, having risen to 73.1% in Quarter 2 from 72.4% the previous quarter. Whilst the National Development Plan set the goal to reduce unemployment to 6% by 2030 and create 11 million jobs, unemployment continues to grow. This, despite the denialism prompted by former Capitec Bank CEO, Gerrie Fourie, that the informal sector is not accounted for in the Quarterly Labour Force Survey and that the country’s unemployment is closer to 10%. It has been extremely worrying to observe how business and government have been willing to support this unfounded and unscientific view, because through it, the unemployment crisis can be ignored, and government can reduce critical social security interventions that are necessary to avoid a crisis of hunger and poverty in the country.
The unemployment crisis, widening inequality, absolute poverty, entrenched crime and corruption, struggling public and municipal services are among the issues COSATU believes should be at the centre of the National Dialogue convened by the Presidency. It is also the reason the Federation supported the convening of the National Convention even as it urged the Legacy Foundations not to abandon the project while acknowledging the legitimacy of the concerns they raised. For its part, COSATU will continue to participate in the Dialogue to elevate the many deep seated socio-economic challenges facing the working class, the economy and the state, which require the entirety of society to resolve.
COSATU remains adamant that the National Dialogue Secretariat be housed and coordinated at Nedlac to avoid undermining the statutory social dialogue forum and ensure that Organised Labour’s voice is not drowned out and that the outcomes are coherent and lead to material improvements in the lives of the working class.
South Africa’s economic crisis is set to deepen following the imposition of the 30% trade tariffs by the Trump administration. The devasting impact of the tariffs is already evident following the closure of Good Year in Uitenhage, the temporary production halt at Mercedes Benz, not to mention the potential loss of thousands of jobs in agriculture and manufacturing. We remain deeply concerned by the potential jobs bloodbath that may result from the US tariffs of 30% imposed upon South African exports to the world’s largest economy. It is urgent that the South African government ramp up engagements with the US to ensure that these tariffs can be lowered and a mutually beneficial new trade agreement put in place. The Federation will continue to work closely with the South African government to ensure that this can happen, that new trade markets can be sought and measures to cushion affected sectors and jobs, in particular in the agricultural, motor and other manufacturing sectors be put in place.
The CEC expressed deep concern about the ongoing war between Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Force (RSF), which is reported to have killed more than 150 000 people and displaced more than 12 million. The United Nations has branded it the worst humanitarian crisis but has done little to resolve it. The ceasefire signed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda is on shaky ground following the killing of 52 civilians in North Kivu allegedly by Allied Democratic Forces between 9 and 16 August. A meeting to discuss a permanent peace deal on 18 August did not take place as M23 was a no show.
COSATU has welcomed the appointment of Bhuti Manamela as Minister of Higher Education and Training and is set to engage the Ministry to manage the fall out resulting from appointments of SETA Board Chairpersons by his predecessor. The lack of organised labour representatives in the previous nominee list was startling, given labour is counted among the principal stakeholders in the national skills development framework. COSATU will work with other Federations within Nedlac to ensure labour representation is not compromised. The Federation will also ensure Minister Manamela addresses the issue of workers’ education funding.
The CEC also expressed alarm over the allegations made by Kwa-Zulu Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, about collusion between criminal syndicates and high-ranking law enforcement members, senior government officials and politicians with these syndicates. COSATU will be watching with interest as proceedings at the Madlanga Commission and Ad Hoc Committee unfold.
Throwing forward to the CC, the Federation will deliberate on how to advance the National Democratic Revolution; protect the gains of democracy including progressive labour laws, worker rights and the transformation agenda.
The Federation is also set to engage its Alliance partners on what form the 2026 local government election campaign will take, given the South African Communist Party’s 5th Special National Congress resolution to contest the polls separate from the African National Congress. COSATU will seek a clear mandate from its members on the posture it should adopt. The unity of the Alliance and the workers is paramount for the Federation.
COSATU commended its Affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers, on its recent successful National Congress and regaining its majority at Impala Platinum.
Beyond the CC, COSATU is set to commemorate World Day for Decent Work on 7 October as well as the Federation’s 40th anniversary celebrations at Dobsonville Stadium on 6 December.
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (COSATU National Spokesperson)
Mobile: 079 287 5788 or 077 600 6639
Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za
