The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) used its 8th Central Committee (CC) meeting in Benoni to deliver a sharp critique of government economic policy, warning that the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) is in “regression” under the weight of austerity [The NDR is based on Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism and holds that the South African state should expropriate all wealth and capital in order for the country to become truly free].

Representing over 1.5 million workers, COSATU’s leadership argued that the Government of National Unity (GNU) has become over-reliant on private capital to deliver on developmental mandates, a strategy it says has repeatedly failed. Delegates condemned what they described as “neoliberal austerity policies” that have undermined public services, deepened inequality, and left the economy stalled at just 1% growth. With unemployment at 42.9% overall and 73.1% among youth aged 15 to 24, the federation said the burden of failure falls hardest on women, young people, and working-class communities.

The federation cast this moment as a betrayal of the working class and a retreat from the revolutionary [NDR] project. “These policies over years have failed and instead led to rising unemployment, inequality, and poverty,” the CC resolved. COSATU reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the NDR as the “direct path to socialism” and pledged to intensify campaigns for a progressive budget, expanded social protection, and land reform.