SAFTU Launches Task Team to Confront Job Loss Crisis in South Africa

27 September 2025 – The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has sounded the alarm on what it calls a “jobs bloodbath,” warning that the scale of job losses across multiple industries has reached catastrophic levels.

President of SAFTU, Zwelinzima Vavi, announced that the federation will establish a Central Task Team to prepare for a working-class summit aimed at uniting unions, workers, and communities in the fight against unemployment, poverty, and economic austerity.

Rising Job Losses Across Key Sectors

This year alone, several industries—including automobile, mining, and manufacturing—have reported significant retrenchments. In one of the most high-profile announcements, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa revealed restructuring plans that could result in over 680 job cuts.

With South Africa already grappling with an official unemployment rate of 33.2% (and a broader unemployment rate closer to 43% when factoring in discouraged job seekers), Vavi said the situation represents a national catastrophe.

“This is a pandemic on its own, and the government of national unity does not seem to have an answer,” Vavi declared.

READ: Coca-Cola Bottling Plant Announces Major Restructuring, Potentially Cutting 600 Jobs in South Africa

SAFTU’s Call for Unity

SAFTU is urging workers, trade unions, and communities to close ranks against what it describes as a “crisis upon a crisis.” Vavi emphasized that only a united working-class movement, one that links workplace struggles with broader community struggles, can effectively resist job cuts, hunger, housing shortages, failing healthcare, and poor service delivery.

“Only when we can unite workplace struggles with community struggles can we respond to austerity, capitalism, and the carnage of job losses and social collapse,” Vavi said.

The upcoming working-class summit will focus on developing a collective strategy to confront unemployment while addressing intersecting crises, including healthcare, water supply, crime, and corruption.

Internal Union Challenges

Meanwhile, SAFTU’s call for unity comes amid internal challenges. The Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITA), an affiliate of SAFTU, has been placed under administration following financial misconduct by former leader Lerato Mthunzi.

Current YNITA leader Smanga Thongo confirmed that safeguards are being implemented to prevent similar abuses in the future:

“The administrator is tasked with implementing reforms in financial flows and rebuilding the organization to ensure future leaders do not misuse union funds,” Thongo said.

YNITA further confirmed that once misappropriated funds are recovered, criminal charges will be pursued against Mthunzi.

READ: Youth Unemployment in South Africa Rises to 4.9 Million, NYDA CEO Highlights Challenges and Opportunities

Building Momentum

Despite these setbacks, SAFTU insists the broader fight for jobs and worker rights remains the top priority. For millions of South Africans facing unemployment, the federation argues that unity and decisive action are the only path forward.

The working-class summit will serve as a platform to consolidate strategies, mobilize mass support, and challenge policies that workers believe have deepened the economic crisis.