Overview
- COSATU held its 40th‑anniversary rally at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday, drawing leaders from its alliance partners.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa urged both the ANC and COSATU to rebuild and renew after what he called a dip, acknowledging declining membership and a venue with visibly empty seats, according to local reporting.
- COSATU president Zingiswa Losi emphasized alliance unity and cited gains such as bringing more than six million workers under the national wage framework and helping preserve the COVID social relief grant.
- SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila said the alliance is not functioning well, a public sign of strain following the SACP’s move to contest next year’s elections independently.
- Recent coverage places COSATU’s membership at about 1.6 million, while leaders, including NUM’s Phillip Vilakazi, warned the movement is struggling to attract younger workers.