Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
congress of south african trade unionslatest news & developments
ANC  secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. (X)

Mbalula: ANC has failed to convince SACP against contesting 2026 elections independently

The ANC secretary-general said the organisation might need to reconsider the policy of allowing dual membership of both parties

Dialogue vs delivery: Many have criticised the National Dialogue as yet another ‘talk shop’ much like the Zondo state capture commission and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (above). Photo: File

Hijacked: National Dialogue faces a credibility crisis

The DA claims it was proven right to boycott the dialogue after Deputy President Paul Mashatile instructed ministers to attend the convention virtually

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

DA slams R700m national dialogue as pricey ‘talk shop’

Several prominent foundations have withdrawn from the national dialogue citing poor planning and questionable spending

Firm: Democratic Alliance finance spokesperson Mark Burke said the DA will not bend on increasing VAT to make up a budget shortfall. Photo: DA/X

Budget impasse down to the wire

Any VAT increase is probably off the table, leaving the treasury to look for revenue without bringing the coalition to the brink

Solly Mapaila at the African National Congress (ANC) 112th anniversary at Mbombela Stadium on January 13,  2024. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

SACP set to confirm independent 2026 election bid at tripartite alliance meeting

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for its alliance partners, the SACP and labour federation Cosatu, to unite to return the ANC to power

SACP  general secretary Solly Mapaila dismissed the notion of any alignment with MK. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

SACP calls against an ANC and uMkhonto weSizwe party coalition

The South African Communist Party has rejected claims of collaborating with the uMkhonto weSizwe party, describing it as a counter-revolutionary organisation

The ANC and SACP have agreed to continuous consultation and to strengthening the broader ANC-led alliance

ANC, SACP plan talks to rebuild alliance ahead of January lekgotla

The parties have agreed to continuous consultation and to strengthening the broader ANC-led alliance

Students protest against apartheid in 1976.  (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Lessons from South Africa’s past for a future of collective empowerment

Education’s role in fostering critical consciousness and political engagement has been side-lined in favour of a narrow focus on individual success and economic competitiveness

March past: A Cosatu demonstration in Johannesburg last year. Photo: Papi Morake/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Cosatu: Agoa must support Africa’s industrialisation

Beneficiation growth, decent work, penalties for companies that violate labour laws and ensuring multinational companies pay taxes in Africa are among the issues unions will raise

New move to get cannabis master plan back on track

Business and unions are set to participate in an Operation Phakisa meeting from Monday next week

Participants cited the failure of government departments to come up with a common stance on cannabis and territorial battles by senior bureaucrats as being among the reasons for their withdrawal.
Photo: Supplied

Cannabis master plan on the rocks

A lack of coherent approach by government departments has stalled the process of developing cannabis policy

Whether it is this initiative or any other initiative, SA Tourism says it will still spend about R1 billion on marketing on foreign soil. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

UPDATED: Three SA Tourism board members resign amidst R1bn investment in Tottenham Hotspur controversy

Enver Duminy, Ravi Nadasen, who both served the board for three terms, and Rosemary Anderson resigned from the SA Tourism board

Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, Cyril Ramaphosa: The people who killed Eskom over 25 years

In 1997, the warning bells were ringing that South Africa faced a dark future because Eskom would run out of capacity to supply a growing populace and an expanding economy

Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the ANC will wait for further details of the South African Communist Party’s decision to contest elections alone before determining its effect on the tripartite alliance that includes labour federation Cosatu. (Delwyn Verasamy/MG)

Is it time for the Gospel According to St Paul, as Mashatile eyes the ANC presidency?

The ANC treasurer is being punted as a compromise — rather than a compromised — presidential candidate

Demonstrators march during a national strike day of action over the high cost of living, organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), in Tshwane, South Africa, on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022. Joblessness, rising food and fuel prices and an aggressive interest-rate hiking cycle pose a threat to social stability in an economy still reeling from several Covid-19 lockdowns and deadly riots in 2021. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Gungubele asks Cosatu, Saftu to ‘relook’ at their demands raised in shutdown march

The labour federations want a basic income grant of R1 500 and for a drop in the price of food, fuel, electricity and interest rates to

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)

‘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

The memorandum was signed by Infrastructure in South Africa, an entity of the department of public works and infrastructure; the national treasury; and the Development Bank of Southern Africa. (Madelene Cronjé/M&G)

‘Protect your workers’ against coronavirus

The labour department has called on employers to implement measures to minimise threat of Covid-19 to South Africa’s workforce

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)

Bring ‘empathy’ back to Nedlac

Lisa Seftel started out in the labour movement before she took up positions in government. Now, as the head of Nedlac, she has to create a space where both sides can meet to…

(Paul Botes/M&G)

Cosatu has a plan to save Eskom

The union federation says urgent, bold action is needed to keep the state-owned utility (and South Africa) going

Cosatu fought to address the wage gap 20 years ago, when the Employment Equity Bill was being drawn up, but since then it has remained silent on the issue. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Cosatu takes to the streets over Eskom, job losses

​The country’s largest trade union federation will embark on a one-day nationwide strike against job losses and Eskom restructuring