Youth in historic turn-out

As the YCL we take this opportunity to congratulate the 1.6 million new voters who have been registered in this weekend's registration period. We are even more excited that 77% of the new voters are young people. This shows that the efforts put by our members and leaders have borne fruits.

ANC YL on voter registration turnout

The African National Congress Youth League once again expresses its satisfaction on the number of young people who turned out for voter registration on the 8th and 9th of November 2009. This turnout dispels the myth that young people are apathetic and not interested in politics in South Africa.

Voter registration weekend

The ANC congratulates the people of South Africa following the successful countrywide voter registration weekend. The ANC calls upon those who had no time to register to vote to do so at IEC and municipality offices on weekdays. We welcome the proposed voter registration weekend in February.

Resignation of Smuts Ngonyama

Smuts Ngonyama tendered his resignation to the ANC today [13 November 2008]. The ANC accepts and welcomes his resignation without any regrets. We wish him luck in this further endeavours.

Jacob Zuma visits Northern Cape

On the final leg of his Northern Cape visit, ANC President Jacob Zuma continued a public engagement with local communities, workers, business, youth, women, traditional and religious leaders on key priorities for the ANC after elections. Full report in COSATU Today.

Renationalise SASOL and Mittal Steel

Hundreds of SACP and alliance members, drawn from all of our structures in the province, will be marching for the re-nationalisation of SASOL and Mittal Steel. The march will be held on Saturday, 15 November 2008, starting at Workers' Library, New Town, Jhb, at 09h30 and proceed to Premier's office.

Make the Ginwala Report Public!

The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has written to President Kgalema Motlanthe to request him to make the Ginwala Commission's Report on the fitness of Adv Pokoli to hold office of National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) available to the public by Friday, 14 November 2008.

Proudly South African Expo

A Proudly South African Conference is being held on 17 November 2008 at Grand West, Cape Town, starting at 07h30 with a breakfast. A concert will be held on Monday 17 November at 19h30 at Grand West and featuring Claire Philips, Kurt Schoonraad and others. – COSATU Western Cape

FIFPRO General Assembly Resolutions

SAFPU officials arrived back on 10 November 2008 from a three day FIFPRO General Assembly in Santiago Chile, attended by forty six member countries, three candidate and five observers from Africa, America, Asia and Europe. Detailed report in COSATU Today.

Thousands march to the CCMA

Over 2000 members of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) march to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in Matlosana, Klerksdorp to present a memorandum over the slow pace in which cases are being dealt with, and other deficiencies.

FAWU rejects 8 percent offer

The Food and Allied Workers' Union rejects the latest offer of an eight percent wage increase to farm workers as proposed by the Agricultural Employers' Organisation. We believe that 8 percent in present circumstances is tantamount to slave practices.

BWI slams death of SA forest workers

BWI has learned of the tragic death of at least 23 forestry workers today in South Africa who were the unfortunate victims of a tragic road accident on their way to work. Loading workers on to open trucks is completely unacceptable. BWI shares the grief of the families of the workers.

Stop Carrying Workers on Open Trucks

All those who continue to transport workers on open trucks should be held liable for these workers' deaths. This week in Mpumalanga more than 20 lives were lost due to this negligent practice. FAWU calls on government and parliament to enact legislation that prohibits this slave type of practice.

COSATU mourns workers’ deaths

COSATU is angry at the death of at least 23 workers between Bushbuckridge and Dwarsloop. The open truck on which they we being transported to work collided with a KFC truck. We demand that the law must be changed and rigidly enforced, so that employers are forced to use safe forms of transport.

WFDY 63rd Anniversary Declaration

The World Federation of Democratic Youth celebrates 63 years of its constitution on 10 November 2008. We in a historical necessity to find the exact point between theory and practice so we can be able to throw away for once and forever the unfair imperialist system. More in COSATU Today

US Blockade a crime against humanity

The US persistence of the policy of blockade is irrational, immoral, cruel, and vindictive. This policy is a consequence of a US government hell-bent on increasing harm, suffering and inducing apartheid-type consequences against the Cuban people and their country’s sovereignty. More details in COSATU Today

COSATU backs ZCTU on SADC deal

COSATU fully supports the statement by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions on the outcome of the extraordinary summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government, and reaffirms its support for the creation of a transitional administration whose only function will be to organised new elections.

Outcome of Extraordinary SADC Summit

ZCTU has not been surprised by the failure of the SADC Summit to break the impasse between ZANU PF and the MDC. The SADC bloc leaders have shown to be an Old Boys association that stands by any leader in office and ignore the opposition. The ZCTU says no to this sham of an approach.

ANC Media Liaison Team

The ANC is please to advise that the ANC national media liaison team has been strengthened with the appointment of Carl Niehaus, who will assist ANC national spokesperson Jessie Duarte in the period leading up to the 2009 election. Full contact details in COSATU Today.

National Working Committee Statement

The NWC of the ANC YL met on the 11 November to make reflections on the following concrete organisational and political issues: Voter Registration; National Youth Development Agency; Provincial Visits; SABC; Zimbabwe; the dissident rebel political party. Full details in COSATU Today.

ANC National Working Committee

The ANC NWC met at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on 10 November 2008 and announced a Manifesto Policy Conference on 28-30 November, Provincial List Conferences to be completed by 7 December, and a National List Conference on 13-14 December. More details in COSATU Today.

Ditsela’s new offices

You are cordially invited to celebrate the official opening of Ditsela’s new offices. The details are as follows:

• Date: 28 November 2008
• Time: 13h00
• Address: Ditsela Workers’ Education Institute, 24 Kruis Street (Cnr Marshall Street)
• Food: A finger lunch and refreshments will be served

DME: Intervene at ERPM!

Over two thousands NUM members will today march to the Department of Labour in Boksburg to demand government intervention at DRD Gold’s East Rand Proprietary Mine (ERPM). NUM calls on the DME to revoke the license if needs be and award it to more deserving companies.

Free State ARV rollout failure

DENOSA is concerned about the failure of the department of health in the Free State to give patients Anti-Retro Viral (ARV’s). Our conscience as DENOSA in Free State does not allow us to let this happen. We call the department to immediately provide patients with this vital treatment.

Global crisis, economic summit

We leaders of NUMSA are happy to inform all our members and the people of this beautiful country, South Africa, that we are on course to translate into a Four Year Master Programme all the Resolutions of our 8th National Congress. Full text in COSATU Today.

Goldfields: 11 000 to down tools

A total of 11 000 mineworkers today down tools to observe a day of mourning at Beatrix mine in the Free State, owned by serial killer Gold Fields in line with NUM resolution of observing a day of mourning for each fatality that occurs in the mines, after a mineworker lost his life last week.

Strike action hits Lonmin

Over 2000 NUM members downed tools at Lonmin after the collapse of protracted negotiations on the equalisation of pay for workers at Lonmin Limpopo and at other Lonmin operations. It is not the economic meltdown that is the problem, but poor planning on the part of its management.

One more mineworker dead, two critical

A mineworker died at Northam Platinum in Rustenburg at 21 level due to methane explosion. One other worker was critically injured after what is reported to be a fall of groun. Another worker was injured at Murrray and Roberts. Both injured are in hospital, in the Intensive Care Unit. - NUM

Swazi Election Unconstitutional, SCCCO

The Swaziland Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations has challenged the appointments of all five of the Elections and Boundaries Commission as being unconstitutional. ‘If that is the case then the constitution is window dressing set up to fool the international community,’ says Musa Hlophe

SADC Extraordinary Summit

The MDC is shocked and saddened that the SADC Summit has failed to tackle these key issues. We remain committed to the agreement and peaceful resolution of the Zimbabwean crisis. The democratic voice and vote of the Zimbabwean people will one day be heard and respected – Morgan Tsvangirai

Diva Miriam Makeba

The YCL learned with shock and sadness about the untimely passing on of renowned South African music diva Mama Miriam Makeba. May the present generations of musicians and performers draw a leaf from Makeba's progressive and rich music work.

Tribute to Mama Africa, Miriam Makeba

Mama Miriam epitomised the essence of creative artists' contributions to national liberation struggle. Creative artists should take a leaf from Mama's inspiring life and stand up against all oppression, repression, suppression, and violation of human rights and freedoms across the world. – ANC YL

Miriam Makeba

The Congress of South African Trade Unions joins the nation and the world in mourning the sad passing of Miriam Makeba. She was still singing the night she died. We send our condolences to her family, friends and millions of fans across the globe.

ANC mourns Miriam Makeba

The African National Congress (ANC) is deeply saddened to learn of the death of world-acclaimed and legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba. We pay homage to "Mama Africa" as we have affectionately known her. The ANC extends its condolences to her family, friends and relatives.

ANC President on Miriam Makeba

The ANC dips its banner in tribute to an African heroine, Miriam Zenzile Makeba, a freedom fighter and outstanding African cultural figure who passed away in Italy. The passing of this African songstress leaves a gaping hole in the cultural life of our country and the African continent. – Jacob Zuma

Collective Bargaining Conference

The South African Municipal Workers Union [SAMWU] will be holding its National Collective Bargaining Conference in Mpumalanga from the 11-13 November 2008 in preparation for wage demands for the 2009/10 financial year.

Masiphumelele shooting

Abdi Mubil, an Ethiopian man who had reintegrated from Soetwater, was shot dead in Masiphumelele on Saturday, a day before the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation was due to hand an award to the Masiphumelele Community Forum for facilitating return of residents and recovery of their looted possessions, after the May xenophobic attacks.