The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) wishes the Southern African Trade Union Coordination Council (SATUCC) a successful 11th Delegate’ Congress, taking place today, the 28th of October 2022 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Congress is being convened under the theme “Revitalisation Of Trade Unions In Southern Africa: How Best Can We Deliver our Mandate”. The theme is a clear demonstration of the continued commitment to SATUCC’s founding principles of uniting the working class and to being the formidable force for social transformation.On the 25th – 26th, the Congress delegates dialogued on Labour Migration Governance, and on the 27th of October, discussed regional and SATUCC Policies.

Since the last Congress in 2018, it is observed that although overall unemployment rates are generally low for some member states, the majority of jobs are informal, precarious and characterised by high levels of working poverty. This is attributed to the slow pace of structural change in most countries, and premature deindustrialisation in other economies, which has limited prospects of higher labour productivity across all sectors, notably in industries where the share of manufacturing is declining.

Despite all the efforts of our governments, SADC remains the most unequal region on the continent, with Namibia and South Africa being confirmed as having higher inequality than the rest and Lesotho being the least unequal in the region. SATUCC should therefore be live to these debates, and as a working class movement ensure that the socioeconomic ills in society are eradicated. Crucial for our success is the maintenance of worker power and democracy, and unity across the labour movement.

Taking to the Congress, COSATU has taken mandate from the federation to prioritise resolutions that talk to building a financially stable SATUCC, organisational building, and strengthened programmes on solidarity with the workers of Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

We once again applaud the leadership of SATUCC, led by our President Zingiswa Losi, for convening the Congress, and hope to see a strengthened and united SATUCC emerge.

Aluta Continua!

Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni (Cde)
International Secretary
Cosatu Head Office
Email:sonia@cosatu.org.za