In the days of apartheid, unions fought for more than just wages, they wanted a new society. Now it seems they have abandoned their roots
Labour relations reached a crossroads with the Marikana Massacre, raising questions about the relevance and power of unions post-apartheid
The South African Communist Party is among 192 political parties that had not met the deadline to register with the Electoral Commission of South Africa
Budget approval hangs in the balance and resistance to it is set to play out in the legislature’s finance committees
The Democratic Alliance said the budget would struggle to pass in parliament, given the ANC’s lack of a majority
Last year, the finance minister hinted there would be tax increases in 2025
The EFF and MK party both believe the new law falls short of giving real muscle to land reform programmes
It will also try to ease dealings with its partners in the government of national unity (GNU), in particular the DA, ahead of local government election campaigning
The SACP, EFF and uMkhonto weSizwe party are all looking at potential new alliances
The SACP is asking important questions of itself but, like the other parties busy with political activities this week — and those threatening to walk out of the government of national unity — it should also be asking itself what material benefit its decisions will bring to those it will be asking to vote for the party come the 2026 local government elections
The SACP had planned to run in 2024 national and provincial elections but pulled back because of the number of parties funded by white capital
Communists say their political identity and influence have been diluted
Delegates to the SACP’s fifth Special National Congress will reassess its partnership with the ANC, citing declining electoral fortunes and growing voter discontent
The civic organisation says the ANC’s relationship with itself, labour federation Cosatu and the South African Communist Party is ‘fake’
Education’s role in fostering critical consciousness and political engagement has been side-lined in favour of a narrow focus on individual success and economic competitiveness
COSATU has called on the labour minister to intervene
Gwarube did not attend the signing ceremony due to concerns regarding the legislation
The uMkhonto weSizwe party leadership is ‘not aware’ of any plan for Zuma to say goodbye to his former comrade
Fikile Mbalula said differing views about unity government members were fine, but ‘personal attacks and labelling’ were not
The South African Communist Party says the alliance secretariat has met once or twice in two years
The president said the party had entered uncharted territory following its failure to secure an outright majority in the 29 May general elections
The president has made plain his impatience to lock down a deal and name his new executive
The Democratic Alliance says the president must stick to the letter of the coalition pact and divide cabinet posts among parties in line with the number of seats in parliament
Building a leftist party to contest future elections will require exorcising existing organisations of their Stalinism — or creating something from a much smaller base
The labour movement helped end apartheid and usher in Mandela’s coalition government. Its currently diminished position is cause for anxiety as the ANC forges new political alliances
Linda used his pen and camera to expose the unspeakable crimes of the apartheid regime and continued to fight for equality after democracy
The bill lays the foundation for a single public procurement framework, provides transparency clauses that will boost the fight against state capture and corruption, and compels the state to do more to support local businesses and thus jobs
The ANC is blaming Jacob Zuma and not itself for the mess South Africa is in
The party’s belief that the base pay should be phased out could scupper its coalition prospects
Despite what some say about the Takatso deal’s collapse, the private sector has made strong inroads at public enterprises
Unlike ANC governments, we must practise consistent, inclusive solidarity and internationalism
Some blame labour protections and unions for South Africa’s economic malaise. But this claim lacks evidence and stands to leave us in an even worse position