National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU)

What National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) does

NEHAWU (National Education Health & Allied Workers Union) is a South African trade union registered as a non-profit membership organisation, headquartered in Johannesburg with provincial offices in all nine South African provinces (Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape) and multiple regional sub-offices within each province. It represents workers in the public-sector education, health, and allied fields, providing individual grievance and disciplinary representation through trained shop stewards and paralegals, collective bargaining across the PSCBC, CCMA, Department of Labour, GPSSBC, PHSDBC, ELRC and SSSBC councils, and member-benefit services through its MHA programme.

The union's core product surface consists of membership representation, collective bargaining, the MHA health and benefits programme, structured publications (Education Bulletins, Bargaining Conference bulletins, International Monitors, Political School bulletins), and direct communication channels including a dedicated WhatsApp Channel, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and YouTube. There is no proprietary technology product; the technology footprint is limited to a public website, social media presence, and standard communications tooling. NEHAWU is affiliated with COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) domestically and with the WFTU (World Federation of Trade Unions) and TUI-PAE (Trade Union International for Public Services) internationally, including representation on the WFTU Presidential Council.

NEHAWU's revenue model is membership-subscription-based; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. Leadership is democratically elected at periodic National Congresses, with the 13th National Congress held in June 2026 installing President Nyameka Macanda, First Deputy President Patrick Makhafane, General Secretary Zola Saphetha (re-elected unopposed), and other National Office Bearers. The organisation operates as a private, non-listed, non-profit entity with no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds.

Name

National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU)

Legal name

National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU)

Website

https://nehawu.org.za

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NEHAWU is a South African non-profit trade union representing public-sector workers in education, health, and allied fields, providing collective bargaining across PSCBC, PHSDBC, ELRC and other councils, grievance representation, MHA member benefits, and operating across all nine South African provinces from its Johannesburg headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Union Services

NAICS

Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (813930)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Trade union services
• Collective bargaining
• Worker representation
• Public sector union
• Member benefits

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NEHAWU is a South African trade union that provides membership representation, collective bargaining, and worker protection services to public sector employees in the education, health, and allied sectors. The union negotiates on behalf of members across multiple statutory bargaining councils, represents workers in grievances and disciplinary hearings via shop stewards and paralegals, and offers member benefits including a health benefits program (MHA), publications, political education, and international solidarity engagement.

Product overview

NEHAWU operates as a unified union organization offering membership services primarily through its core member benefits program. The union provides services across multiple areas including membership representation, collective bargaining across various councils (PSCBC, CCMA, Department of Labour, GPSSBC, PHSDBC, ELRC, SSSBC), MHA health benefits, publications (bulletins, political school materials, international monitors), and communication channels including WhatsApp. The organization has a network of regional offices across nine provinces serving members through collective representation and member services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NEHAWU Membership Services Union membership offering efficient representation, dedicated workplace transformation, and improved service delivery for public sector workers. Includes grievance handling, disciplinary hearing support, and access to the MHA member benefits program.
• MHA Benefits Program Health and benefits program offering advantages to NEHAWU members including access to healthcare and related services as part of their union membership.
• Collective Bargaining Services Representation in collective bargaining through PSCBC, CCMA, Department of Labour, GPSSBC, PHSDBC, ELRC, and SSSBC councils, negotiating employment terms and conditions on behalf of members.
• NEHAWU Publications and Bulletins Regular publications including Education Bulletins, Collective Bargaining Conference bulletins, Political School bulletins, and International Relations bulletins distributed to members.
• NEHAWU International Monitor Weekly international monitoring reports covering global labor movements, human rights issues, and international solidarity matters relevant to public sector workers.
• Political School Program Political education program for union members providing training on political matters, leadership development, and class consciousness aligned with NEHAWU's principles.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEHAWU is an affiliate of COSATU, South Africa's largest trade union federation. NEHAWU participates in COSATU Central Committee meetings and events.
• WFTU (World Federation of Trade Unions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEHAWU is affiliated with WFTU and participates in international trade union activities. General Secretary Zola Saphetha serves on the WFTU Presidential Council.
• TUI-PAE (Trade Union International for Public Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEHAWU is an affiliate of TUI-PAE, the Trade Union International for Public and Allied Employees, participating in international public sector union activities.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU): One of the largest COSATU affiliates representing teachers and education workers in the public sector, directly competing with NEHAWU for the same education segment membership.
• Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU): A COSATU-affiliated public sector union representing police, correctional services, and traffic officers; overlaps with NEHAWU's public sector mandate and federation structure.
• National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA): Largest COSATU affiliate representing metalworkers and manufacturing workers; comparable in scale, structure, and federation affiliation to NEHAWU.
• National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA): Independent teachers' union competing with NEHAWU and SADTU for public school educator members.
• Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA): A trade union specifically for nurses and health workers in South Africa; competes directly with NEHAWU for health sector public sector members.
• Public Servants Association (PSA): The largest non-COSATU public sector union in South Africa, representing a wide range of government employees; competes directly with NEHAWU across multiple departments.
• National Union of Mineworkers (NUM): Founding COSATU affiliate representing mineworkers; shares the same federation governance and South African public-sector bargaining context as NEHAWU.

Emerging players

• Public Services International (PSI): Global federation of public sector unions; comparable in international solidarity mandate to WFTU/TUI-PAE but operating under a different political tradition, providing competitive global affiliation options.

Broad incumbents

• COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions): NEHAWU's parent federation; coordinates collective bargaining, political positioning, and cross-affiliate strategy across South Africa's largest union federation.
• Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA): Second-largest South African trade union federation; competes with COSATU (and thus NEHAWU) for affiliation of major public and private sector unions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NEHAWU
• Facebookweb.facebook.com/nehawu.ad
• Instagraminstagram.com/nehawu_union
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-education-health-allied-workers-union-nehawu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Education Health & Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU)