COSATU President Singiswa Losi.
On Friday, May 1, 2026, the streets of Polokwane will turn into a sea of red as the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) hosts its National May Day Rally at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. This massive event is the centerpiece of nine provincial rallies taking place across the country to honor the contributions of the working class.
Under the theme “2026: The Year of Decisive Action to Fix Local Government and Transform the Economy,” workers are gathering at a time of deep political and economic stress. While the rallies celebrate the history of labor, they also highlight a growing rift between the partners of the Tripartite Alliance.
A Nation in Motion: May Day Venues
The federation has organized high-profile rallies in every province to ensure every worker can participate in this historic day. The scheduled locations include:
*Limpopo (National Rally): Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane.
*Western Cape: Mbekweni Sports Stadium, Paarl.
*Free State: Bultfontein Stadium, Bultfontein.
*Eastern Cape: Events will be held in Gqeberha, kuGompo, Komani, and Lusikisiki.
*Gauteng: Tsakane Stadium, Brakpan.
*KwaZulu-Natal: Curries Fountain Stadium, Durban.
*Mpumalanga: Kamagugu Stadium, Mbombela.
*Northern Cape: Galeshewe Open Air Arena, Kimberley.
*North West: Olympia Stadium, Rustenburg.
The Working Class Under Fire
Despite the festivities, the mood among workers is grim. COSATU has pointed out that the working class is currently battling a staggering 41.1 percent unemployment rate. Families are struggling to survive a rising cost of living, constant retrenchments, and failing municipal services. For many, the “Year of Decisive Action” is not just a slogan: it is a desperate plea for a government that works.
The ANC leadership has also admitted that 30 years into democracy, the gains of the revolution are unevenly distributed. Poverty and inequality still follow the old patterns of race and class. The decline in trust in democratic institutions is a direct result of these material conditions.
The Alliance Spat: ANC vs. SACP
The biggest shadow over this year’s May Day is the open conflict between the ANC and the South African Communist Party (SACP). The SACP has resolved to contest the 2026 Local Government Elections independently from the ANC. This decision, reaffirmed at their 2024 Special Congress, has sparked what the ANC calls a “painful and difficult” conversation.
The ANC has reacted with sharp warnings, calling the SACP’s move a form of “class suicide” that could lead to the total liquidation of the party. Recent by-elections in Limpopo and the Western Cape have shown the SACP taking an “anti-ANC posture,” with their messages aimed at discrediting their long-term ally.
In a move that has increased tensions, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula issued a directive on April 23, 2026. The order gave members with dual membership just ten working days to declare whether they will campaign for the ANC or the SACP. The ANC warns that campaigning for any other party, including the SACP, is a disciplinary offense with no exceptions.
COSATU’s Plea for Unity
Watching these two giants clash, COSATU has stepped in to urge its partners to stop the public warfare. In a strongly worded statement, the federation asked both parties to “desist from any statements and actions that may weaken the Tripartite Alliance.”
COSATU fears that if these tensions are not resolved with political maturity, they could threaten the very survival of the liberation movement. The federation reminded its partners that this Alliance was forged in the prison cells of Robben Island and the camps of uMkhonto we Sizwe. They invoked the names of stalwarts like Joe Slovo and Chris Hani, who served the entire movement rather than a single party.
The federation is now calling for an urgent meeting of the Alliance Political Council. They want a radical reconfiguration of how the partners work together to ensure a united front for the upcoming elections. COSATU believes that while leaders are airing grievances in public, the poor are left to battle crime, corruption, and hunger alone.
As thousands gather in Polokwane this Friday, the message from the factory floors is clear: the working class cannot afford a divided leadership. Whether the ANC and SACP can find common ground before the 2026 polls remains the biggest question of the year.