The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is appalled but not surprised by the South African Federation of Trade Union (SAFTU)’s petulant attempt to deride the Federation’s unity calls as a mere “dishonest narrative”. Over the weekend, SAFTU, South Africa’s second smallest federation, went off on an emotional tangent on social media about how it was bizarrely boycotting COSATU’s 40th anniversary celebrations.
COSATU, as mandated by its Affiliates and workers has written to its former affiliates, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and the Food and Allied Workers Union (FAWU), proposing unity talks that will see them rejoin their home, COSATU. The Federation also invited its sister Federations to attend its recent Central Committee and 40th anniversary celebrations.
In response, SAFTU has thrown yet another ideologically confused infantile temper tantrum and gone back several years scurrying to dig up old, stale and factually devoid insults to fling at COSATU.
SAFTU’s grievance appears to be COSATU’s call for those who left COSATU, to return to their home. SAFTU appears to be traumatised that COSATU has engaged its former affiliates who are currently within SAFTU. Yet SAFTU’s demand for sensitivity seems to escape them when their officials contact COSATU’s affiliates to divide the Federation, spread fake news and lure them to SAFTU!
SAFTU’s emotional meltdowns aside, COSATU is pleased that its invitation to engage in unity talks has been warmly received by workers, including members of its former affiliates, who have been heartened by the call to return to their home, the Federation of Elijah Barayi. COSATU will not be apologetic, nor be deterred from seeking to fulfill COSATU’s founding call to unite workers across unions and federations, the organised and the unorganised.
At Organised Labour’s 2025 Nedlac School; COSATU, FEDUSA, NACTU and SAFTU jointly resolved to reject austerity budget measures, defend workers’ hard-won gains and ensure implementation of labour laws and agreements that advance the interest of workers. The Federations agreed to a joint National Day of Action against austerity and to push for a budget that prioritises job creation, addresses inequality and poverty, makes provision for essential public services, focuses on the needs of the poor and working class, promotes economic inclusion, and combats crime and corruption.
However, in the lead up to the first of three Budget days on 19 February, SAFTU disappeared and failed to mobilised any of its members to join the march to Parliament to demand a People’s Budget. The sole representative of SAFTU to attend was its General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi, who insisted upon boarding the podium to address workers mobilised by COSATU. Over the years we have seen Vavi pop up at protests at the last minute, shamelessly seeking to exploit the efforts and expenses of COSATU’s hard work. So, when SAFTU speaks of “unity in action” – we are baffled and bemused as to what exactly they are referring to.
If SAFTU is genuinely committed to the unity of workers, then it should abandon its infantile and politically backward behaviour. SAFTU’s Workers’ Day gathering on 1 May, its picket and press conference at Nedlac in July and its choir at Nedlac’s Annual Summit in September were dominated by coffins demanding that COSATU die, while also attacking COSATU and other Federations’ officials. SAFTU’s divisive message is unmistakable. If SAFTU expects to be taken seriously by workers and COSATU, then its time it did some self-introspection and showed a little bit of political maturity and humility.
COSATU will unapologetically continue on its path to unify workers in line with our Central Committee resolution and the Federation’s founding vision of “One union, one industry, one country, one federation.”
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)
079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639