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bheki ntshalintshalilatest news & developments
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Cosatu details plans for next week’s cost of living strike

The trade union federation is using protest to demand urgent action from the government to avoid an ‘economic collapse’

  • Sonri Naidoo
2 min read
South Africa is braced for a public sector strike, which, if all goes to plan, would be the largest in more than a decade. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

Warring ANC factions united in questioning SAA deal

Four unhappy high-ranking party members say the SAA sale was never discussed at the NEC

  • Lizeka Tandwa
7 min read
Better late than never: Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi says it is ‘scandalous’ that it has taken six months for the trade union movement to organise mass action. (John Wessels/AFP)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

October 7 strike: ‘Lukewarm’ action amid Covid-19 crisis?

After months of little action, the planned nationwide stayaway may not be an impressive show of force by the trade union movement

  • Sarah Smit
5 min read
Excluded: United States President Donald Trump signs an emergency coronavirus spending Bill, but it will not protect millions of workers in that country. (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg/Getty Images)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

‘Worker safety nets inadequate’

With large-scale job losses on the horizon here and around the world, the Covid- 19 pandemic has put the vulnerability of workers in sharp focus

  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
Win-win: Lisa Seftel, the head of Nedlac, says there have to be sacrifices on all sides to create a viable social compact. (Paul Botes/M&G)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Coronavirus: Nedlac says it’s no longer business as usual

A special executive committee meeting of business, labour and government was held on Monday to discuss a common programme to slow down the spread of Covid-19

  • Sarah Smit
2 min read
Striking for their rights: Cosatu members protesting in Johannesburg. The trade union federation has previously threatened to dump its alliance with the ANC if planned cuts to the public-sector wage bill go ahead. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Unions slam move to cut wage bill

Cosatu rejects job losses and a wage freeze for public servants, calling this ‘a declaration of war’

  • Paddy Harper
4 min read
Standing her ground: South Africa’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko, has refused to reinstate an employee she fired, despite a directive from the department to do so. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
ATHANDIWE SABA

Labour court rules against ambassador

Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko has lost the latest round in her ongoing battle with the department

  • Athandiwe Saba
4 min read
The union demanded the city transfer the money back to Samwu when its members protested outside the Johannesburg metro centre council chambers in a show of their frustration with the city. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Battered Samwu again at odds

After allegations about maladministration, union leaders are now accused of not coming clean about corruption

  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
The federation held a special central executive committee meeting in Johannesburg this week at which it resolved to oppose any attempts to privatise state-owned entities. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Eskom reports alarm Cosatu

Cosatu general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali says the federation will not be open to any solution involving privatisation

  • Dineo Bendile
3 min read
Unattainable: Cosatu’s general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali (above) will ask for the National Development Plan to be reviewed at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s jobs summit. (Delwyn Verasamy)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Dark clouds gather over jobs summit

Ramaphosa has his work cut out to rally everyone behind his vision and some are already grumbling

  • Dineo Bendile
6 min read
Losi is expected to be officially announced as Cosatu’s new president on Thursday, together with other elected leaders. (Gallo Images)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Zingiswa Losi elected Cosatu’s first woman president

Losi was nominated unopposed by delegates at Cosatu’s 13th national congress taking place in Midrand this week

  • Dineo Bendile
1 min read
Tensions between the media and the EFF reached new heights last week Tuesday after Malema addressed a crowd gathered outside the venue of the commission of inquiry into state capture, in Parktown, Johannesburg.
ACE MAGASHULE

‘Everyone can see what’s happening in the ANC’ — Cosatu on ‘plot’ against Ramaphosa

Cosatu’s general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali said the alliance was concerned about claims that there are talks to remove Ramaphosa

  • Tshidi Madia
2 min read
Tensions between the media and the EFF reached new heights last week Tuesday after Malema addressed a crowd gathered outside the venue of the commission of inquiry into state capture, in Parktown, Johannesburg.
ANC

Workers won’t vote for ANC if state job cuts go ahead

The labour federation says it will not vote for the ANC in 2019 if government goes ahead with public sector job cuts and privatisation of SOEs

  • Govan Whittles
2 min read
Ehrenreich denied that he had been officially approached by any other federation and would not elaborate on the overtures from Saftu.
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Saftu opens the door to Cosatu’s Western Cape leader

Cosatu’s Western Cape secretary has informally met senior leaders of the South African Federation of Trade Unions and could soon join Saftu

  • Govan Whittles
3 min read
The City of Tshwane’s failure to apply for a waiver for Aucamp
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Saftu strike ‘threatens worker unity’

The strike was ignored by three other federations, who described the action as a miscalculation

  • Govan Whittles
  • Sarah Smit
4 min read
Cosatu marched in Johannesburg in 2015. The labour federation plans to hold 13 marches in South Africa on Wednesday and has called on all employed people to join them. The marches are protected.
ANC

Cosatu’s nationwide stayaway is a stand against the ‘predatory elite’

Trade union federation Cosatu has called on all South Africans not to go to work on Wednesday in protest over state capture and corruption.

  • Govan Whittles
4 min read
Tensions between the media and the EFF reached new heights last week Tuesday after Malema addressed a crowd gathered outside the venue of the commission of inquiry into state capture, in Parktown, Johannesburg.
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

‘We can’t lose this one’ – Cosatu on backing Ramaphosa for ANC president

Cosatu’s central executive committee is meeting in Johannesburg to strategise on how to ramp up support for its ANC presidential candidate.

  • Tshidi Madia
4 min read
According to a presentation by Prasa made to Parliament last week, manual train authorisations increased by more than 276% between January and August this year (Gallo)
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Zuma banned from addressing Cosatu gatherings

The president can’t address the ANC alliance partner because his leadership can’t be trusted or supported, says the labour federation.

  • Govan Whittles
3 min read
The Federal Reserve has made it clear that more increases can be expected as it attempts to realign the rates with the strength of the economy. (Reuters)
AARON MOTSOALEDI
Video

Embattled Gordhan honoured with standing ovation at Kathrada funeral

A visibly emotional Gordhan struggled to hold back his tears.

  • Govan Whittles
3 min read
Mosebenzi Zwane, The chairperson of parliament’s portfolio committee for transport, will be indicted for the dairy farm scandal this week
BHEKI NTSHALINTSHALI

Mosebenzi Zwane in firing line after Cosatu’s CEC meeting

Cosatu’s central executive committee says Zwane has failed in his portfolio at the helm of SA’s resource extraction and exploration industries.

  • Govan Whittles
1 min read