The COSATU Central Committee is currently underway, and it’s addressing several critical issues affecting South African workers and the broader economy. Here are the key highlights:
🔹 Focus Areas of the Central Committee
Unemployment Crisis: The committee is meeting against the backdrop of a 42.9% overall unemployment rate and a staggering 72% youth unemployment rate. These figures have prompted urgent discussions on job creation, economic recovery, and worker protections.
Economic Challenges:
Job losses in major companies like Glencore and Goodyear.
Impact of U.S. tariff hikes on South African exports.
Loadshedding improvements credited to Eskom and municipal workers.
Stabilisation efforts at Transnet and the reopening of Metro Rail lines.
Worker Rights and Victories:
Implementation of the Two-Pot Pension Reform, unlocking over R60 billion for 3.5 million workers.
Enforcement of the National Minimum Wage.
Ongoing issues with employers defaulting on pension contributions and municipalities failing to pay salaries.
Organisational Strategy:
Recruitment drives and training of shop stewards.
Organising workers in emerging sectors like gig economy platforms (e.g., Uber).
Strengthening union unity under the slogan: “One industry, one union, one country, one federation.”
🔹 Political Dynamics
COSATU President Zingiswa Losi used the platform to call for unity between the ANC and the SACP, especially after the SACP announced plans to contest the 2026 local elections independently. She emphasised that divisions within the alliance could weaken the working class and derail the goals of the National Democratic Revolution.
🔹 Looking Ahead
The Central Committee is also preparing for COSATU’s elective congress in September 2026, and its 40th anniversary celebration later this year. The outcomes of this week’s discussions are expected to shape COSATU’s strategic direction for the next decade.
Amandla