{
  "id": 7237760,
  "title": "COSATU gears up for its 15th National Congress",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/cosatu-gears-up-for-its-15th-national-congress",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T03:39:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/cosatu-gears-up-for-its-15th-national-congress/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is set to hold its 15th National Congress, coinciding with workers facing a rising cost of living, soaring inflation, and persistently high unemployment. A thousand eight hundred delegates representing 16 COSATU-affiliate unions are anticipated to elect the federation's leadership during the congress, which commences in Midrand, Johannesburg, this Monday.\n\nZanele Sabela, COSATU's national spokesperson, emphasizes that discussions at the congress will encompass the state of COSATU, its affiliated unions, and the dire economic conditions impacting workers. She highlights the federation's struggle as workers navigate an economy that has stagnated for over a decade, with inflation surging at a rate of 1%, and unemployment hovering at 43.8%. Furthermore, Sabela points out that gig and platform workers are enduring particularly exploitative conditions in the evolving landscape of work.",
  "summary": "The Congress takes place in the midst of high inflation, and staggering unemployment rates.",
  "key_points": [
    "COSATU holds 15th National Congress in Johannesburg.",
    "1,800 delegates to elect federation leadership.",
    "Economic struggles: stagnant economy, 43.8% unemployment."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}