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SOUTH AFRICAN COMMERCIAL CATERING AND ALLIED WORKERS UNION




International Relations

1. Units Hierarchy/organogram Of The International Relations Department

  • Head of Department: – Lisema Lekhooana
  • The department does not have regional representatives or structures at this stage

2. National Office Bearers Deployed To The Department

  • Mduduzi Mbongwe – General Secretary
  • Patrick Mogomotsi Hailane – President

3. Aims & Mandate:

The department’s core mission is to manage SACCAWU’s international engagement.
Its key aims are:

    1. Strengthening global working-class solidarity

    • To promote fair labour standards and resist exploitative competition driven by multinational corporations.
    • Collaborating with Global Union Federations, specifically UNI Global Union and IUF, as well as the COSATU’s international department, to align campaigns and initiatives.

4. Key Objectives & Strategy

Key objectives include:

  1. Fostering bilateral links and exchange programs with international sister unions to share best practices and address common issues and challenges, especially when workers face similar conditions from the same multinational employer.
  2. Building an international relations structure that extends from national to regional level, enabling broader involvement in global solidarity campaigns.

5. Campaign Focus & Mandate

The department coordinates and integrates SACCAWU’s international affairs and campaigns on topics such as:

1. Climate change and ecological responsibility in collaboration with the Education unit.

2. Solidarity with global movements including:

  • Palestinian struggle against Israeli apartheid.
  • Democratisation in Eswatini and dismantling of the monarchical “TinkhundLa system”.
  • Amazigh people’s fight for their lands.
  • Anti-imperialist campaigns supporting nations like Cuba and Venezuela.

3. Opposition to “Walmartization”, challenging local retail sectors dominated by global corporations.

4. Active Participation in the Global Stop Amazon Alliance, aimed at countering the power of multinational corporations through solidarity and knowledge sharing.

6. Why it Matters

The department ensures SACCAWU participates actively in global labour and social movements, aligning campaigns with international partners and SACCAWU’s broader strategies. It works to amplify local struggles—such as fighting wage suppression or unsafe working conditions—through global solidarity platforms, thereby reinforcing workers’ rights across borders.