The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] convened its last ordinary National Executive Committee [NEC] meeting of the 12th National Congress on the 30th – 31st March 2026.
The union shall be convening its 13th National Congress on the 26th – 29th June 2026 to look at the implementation of its four year programme of action amidst the complex nature of the political moment.
The NEC firstly congratulated our National Treasurer, Comrade Kgomotso Makhupola for being elected as the National Chairperson of COSATU Gender Structure in the National Elective Gender Conference that was held on the 26th – 27th of March 2026, and committed to support her in contributing to this important ideological task of taking forward the gender struggles not only in the federation but in society as a whole.
The NEC considered the international situation, national situation and socio-economic context as well as organisational matters affecting members and the working class in general.
International
The entry-point of the NEC was the reaffirmation of the continued validity of our analysis of imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism, applying Lenin’s argument that capitalism evolves toward monopoly domination which is vividly confirmed today.
The NEC was convened in the current conjuncture that is characterised by a deepening global capitalist crisis, intensifying imperialist aggression, and growing threats to the sovereignty of nations and the interests of the working class.
The NEC agreed that the global capitalist system remains trapped in a prolonged structural crisis characterised by low growth, rising unemployment, deepening inequality, and worsening living conditions for the working class.
Indeed, capitalism has demonstrated its inability to resolve its inherent contradictions, instead it continues to impose austerity, suppress wages, and erode workers’ rights for super-exploitation and maximisation of profit.
The NEC condemned the escalation of imperialist wars of aggression led by the United States and its allies, which continue to destabilise regions across the world, particularly in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
The NEC called on the international community to send a strong message to the United States for its military aggression against sovereign nations to Boycott the Soccer World Cup to be hosted by the United States and called on FIFA to revoke USA hosting the tournament.
Furthermore, the NEC condemned, in the strongest possible terms, all forms of imperialist aggression, including US military interventions, economic sanctions, and regime change operations directed at independent countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and others resisting imperialist domination.
The NEC expressed grave concern about the renewed imperialist scramble for Africa’s resources, which undermines sovereignty and entrenches dependency. The NEC agreed that the conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Sahel region reflect the destructive role of external interference and the competition among global powers for control of strategic resources.
The NEC reiterated the long standing position of the union on our commitment to the struggle for a united, peaceful, and economically independent Africa, driven by the interests of its people and not imperialist powers.
The NEC agreed to establish an International Front with progressives for international solidarity campaigns and programs that will counter the imperialist agenda of the US imperialism and its Allies.
National Political Situation
The NEC made an in-depth assessment on the state of our national political situation and agreed that the rapidly evolving national political situation following the 2024 general elections, have ushered in a new volatile political conjuncture, and the current conjuncture of our revolution is facing three potential and counter-revolutionary threats, namely: the potential convergence between the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), ambiguous position of the DA on the campaign for the independence of the Western Cape, and alliance of the Afrikaner Neofascist movement with US imperialism under Donald Trump.
Indeed, the NEC agreed that the Government of National Unity (GNU) has entrenched a neoliberal policy framework that continues to be at the detriment of the working class, the transformational agenda of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) and the weakening of the state.
Furthermore, the NEC made analysis on the forthcoming 2026 Local Government Elections and agreed that although there are many issues that will shape the outcomes of the Local Government Elections, the issue of immigration is going to be used by parties as a rallying point for votes instead of confronting the real crisis of neoliberalism which has created the socio-economic challenges confronting our people.
The NEC expressed concern about the dangerous rise of reactionary and populist narratives, particularly around immigration. The NEC agreed that the root cause of the socio-economic crises primarily lies with our Neoliberal state whose capacity has been severely eroded by austerity measures, be it in the provision of healthcare and education, implementation of the migration laws, safe guarding of the boarders or policing.
In the final analysis on the state of our National Democratic Revolution, the NEC agreed that the current phase of the struggle requires the consolidation, deepening and advancement of the NDR. Therefore, the working class as the primary motive force must organisationally position itself to match the monumental strategic task of advancing the NDR in the current conjuncture.
Indeed, central to this task, the NEC agreed to strengthen the left-axis, rebuild organisational capacity of the federation and defend its founding principles, ideological and class orientation, and ensure that the unity and cohesion of the federation is sacrosanct, without abandoning the responsibility of fighting reformism and the poisonous political patronage within the Alliance. Furthermore, the NEC agreed to advance the radical class-oriented trade union perspective that sees the South African Communist Party (SACP) as the vanguard of the working class and the organized labour that is Marxist-Leninist in outlook as the advanced detachment with the broad mass working class and rural-poor.
The NEC concluded the national political situation by identifying political tasks for NEHAWU as follows:
- Strengthen an internal capacity for ideological education and political training,
- Continue to carry-out the mandate to influence COSATU and other working class formations to support the SACP in electoral contests.
- Continue to make initiatives of working with other organisations in health and education – in laying the building blocks of sectoral alliances as part of its contribution in the effort of building the Left Popular Front.
- Maintain its independence as a trade union and its relationship with the SACP as part of the COSATU mandate of strengthening the Socialist-Axis.
- Continue participating in the SACP programmes such as the People’s Red Caravan and the local government elections program.
Socio-Economic
The entry-point of the NEC for the overall assessment of the socio-economic situation was premised on the global economic outlook reflecting elevated uncertainty due persistent geopolitical tensions, financial market volatility and structural weaknesses in major economies.
Indeed these external pressures continue to expose the vulnerability of South Africa’s growth path, particularly its dependence on external demand and imported commodities such as oil. Rising fuel costs are already translating into increased food prices and a higher cost of living for workers and the poor.
Domestically, while there are marginal improvements in economic growth projections, the reality is that the economy remains trapped in a low-growth trajectory. Growth rates of around 1.6% to 2% are insufficient to meaningfully address the triple crisis of unemployment, poverty, and inequality.
The NEC expressed concern over government’s continued commitment to austerity under the guise of fiscal consolidation. The pursuance of austerity has weakened the capacity of the state to deliver services to our people and also undermined its developmental role which amongst others should include active state intervention, including scaled up public investment in infrastructure, industrial policy and job creation programmes.
The meeting expressed concern about the states’ structural reforms programme as being deeply intertwined with an expanding role for the private sector and the rolling-back of the state, which raises important concerns about the long-term implications for state capacity.
On Healthcare, the NEC noted the steady but substantial increases in budget allocations for healthcare since the passing of the NHI Bill by Parliament – from R277 billion in 2024/25 to R329 billion by 2027/28.
The NEC reaffirmed its unwavering support for the full and immediate implementation of the National Health Insurance [NHI]. Furthermore, the NEC outrightly condemned and rejects all attempts, including legal challenges and political manoeuvres, cynically meant to delay the implementation of the NHI. The NHI is a radical and progressive step towards government fulfilling a Constitutional obligation, in particular, Section 27, Subsection 1. Healthcare is a constitutional right.
The NEC agreed to convene an urgent meeting with the Minister of Health to address matters pertaining the permanent appointment of Community Healthcare Workers. Furthermore, the NEC agreed that the union consult with lawyers on the intention of taking the Department of Health to court over its non-implementation of the court order and the collective agreement on the permanent employment of Community Healthcare Workers.
On Education, the crisis in post-school education and training [PSET] further exposes the failures of the state. Thousands of qualifying students are excluded annually due to lack of funding and capacity, while student debt continues to rise. The stagnation of NSFAS funding and the slow expansion of institutions are unacceptable.
The NEC agreed that the PSET is faced with systemic and governance or management crises, which requires activism on the part of the unions and our allied students and youth organisations, with whom we have to build the front in the educations sector.
END
Issued by NEHAWU Secretariat.
Zola Saphetha (General Secretary) at 082 558 5968; December Mavuso (Deputy General Secretary) at 082 558 5969; Lwazi Nkolonzi (NEHAWU National Spokesperson) at 081 558 2335 or email: lwazin@nehawu.org.za