The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) held a Special Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting on Monday, 14 April, at which it resolved to continue engaging members, workers and Affilates, as well as our Alliance Partners on our ally, the South African Communist Party (SACP)’s resolution to contest the 2026 local government elections independently within the Alliance umbrella.
COSATU’s Special CEC was convened yesterday as directed by the normal CEC in February, to extend discussions on the Federation’s political report and the SACP’s resolution to contest next year’s local polls separate from our joint ally, the African National Congress (ANC).
The SACP made a presentation to the COSATU February CEC meeting on the resolution taken at its 5th Special National Congress in December. Taking this into consideration, the CEC resolved to convene a Special CEC in early April, and a Political Commission leading up to it, to sign off on the political report that would guide discussions towards the Federation’s 8th Central Committee in September 2025.
It was initially anticipated that Affiliates would use the period between the normal and Special CEC to report back to members on the SACP’s resolution, but there wasn’t enough time. Additionally, following the Special CEC, COSATU and its Affiliates would embark on a programme to raise class consciousness and regain the confidence of its constituencies prior to the 8th Central Committee, where the Federation would pronounce on the SACP’s resolution to contest elections among other business.
On presenting the signed off political report to the Special CEC yesterday, COSATU Affiliates and provinces deliberated and made inputs, and agreed to adopt the report as a discussion document leading up to the Central Committee in September. Going forward Affiliates and provinces are expected to run political workshops to ensure that all members understand the content of the discussion paper and the CEC decision concerning the SACP’s resolution.
Crucially, the Special CEC agreed not to make a hasty decision regarding the SACP’s resolution, but instead resolved to invite both the ANC and SACP to outline their programmes and modalities on how the elections will be run. Additionally, the two allies will be requested to clarify the issue of dual membership, thereby empowering the Federation to make an informed decision.
All Affiliates agreed that there is no need to urgently pronounce on the Party’s resolution, but it was imperative to discuss it thoroughly and ensure that all members are brought onboard. Of absolutely importance, however, is to safeguard the unity of workers and not allow COSATU to be divided as deliberations unfold.
The CEC received detailed reports on our structures and Affiliates mobilisation programmes to ensure workers turn out in their numbers for Workers’ Day celebrations that COSATU will host across the nation with the national event taking place in Mpumalanga. We are confident that South Africa will be painted red on May Day.
Focus on the May Day celebrations was emphasised by the Special CEC. Venues for May Day rallies across all nine provinces are as follows:
Province Venue Starting time
Mpumalanga Kees Taljaard Stadium, Middelburg 9am
Western Cape The Castle, Cape town 10am
Free State Kroon Park Arena, Kroonstad 9am
Eastern Cape Sisa Dukashe Stadium, Mdantsane 10am
Gauteng Sharpeville Cricket Pitch, Sedibeng 9am
KwaZulu Natal Curries Fountain Stadium, Durban 9am
Limpopo Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane 9am
Northern Cape Thabo Moorosi Multipurpose Centre, Mothibistad, Kuruma 9am
North West Lehurutshe Stadium, Zeerust 9am
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (COSATU National Spokesperson)
Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639
Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za