10/01/2026
Dear Comrades & Friends,
It is an honor to inform you that I have retired from BWI and passed on the baton to Garikanai Shoko on 31st December 2025. It has been an inspirational Journey of forty-Five years in the Trade Union Movement. I thank each one of you that our path has crossed in positive way as much as I have shared my knowledge, but I have equally learnt a lot from you.
The BWI Affiliates in South Africa and BWI Team in Africa & Middle East Hosted a farewell on the 18th of December 2025, I thought it was befitting to share my speech on this occasion.
Retirement Speech
Crecentia Mofokeng
18th December 2025
Honorable Chairperson the General Secretary of NUM Cde Mpho Phakedi, the General Secretary of BWI Cde Ambet Yuson, Assistant General Secretary of BWI Cde Tos Anonuevo, BWI Regional Representative for Asia Pacific D**g Tolentino, for Latin America Cde Nilton Freitas, For Europe, Cde Genevieve Kalina all joining us online, BWI ARR Mr. Garikanai Shoko and his beautiful Wife Constance Shoko, The BWI Regional Presidium they are all present joining us online Cde Okoro, Vilakazi, Maine, Georgina, Shayn, Former Deputy President and Regional President Piet Matosa, Member of the BWI World Board, former BWI youth Chair, Member of the Namibian Parliament Honourable Justina Jonas, Former Global and Regional Youth Chairperson Cde Lebohang Ramabolu, Former Chairperson of the BWI Regional Women Committee Cde Dr Forzet Mugabe, BWI Affiliates Globally, Members of the Regional Committee, Leadership of NUM led by Treasurer General Helen Diatile, The BWI HQ Team Jasmin Rezepovic, Patrick Fonjalaz, Paola, Aude, Linnea and Gulsah, Asia Pacific and Latin America Teams BWI Partners Present Represented by Bjon Haar from 3F, Kathrin Meissner from FES & Zanele Mathebula, Bethuel Maserumule of FES TUCC, Fedusa Representative Brenda Modise, Representative from IUF Cde Mopholosi Morokong, The “A” Team Cdes Dosso, Boitumelo, Kivale, Asma, Peter, and Formers “A” Team members: Inviolata ‘Chinyangarara, Wassim Rifi, Abdul Karim Ouedraogo, the unsung heroes of my Journey present here and online, My Dearest Family.
I thank everyone who have made it possible to converge here in South Africa and online to celebrate my milestone in which many people don’t have this privilege to be celebrated while still alive, I thank God for this life and everything that surrounds it.
My journey as an activist started in the 70’s as a student with a struggle against racial oppression and a rotten system under apartheid. While my footsteps in the trade union movement can be traced back to the Urban Training Project - UTP and NACTU, in ICFTU Afro, and in SATUCC.
I represented the movement at the Commissioner Employment Equity, UIF Board, Education and Training board and for my union at the Industrial Council.
As a female trade unionist in my twenties in the most difficult era of apartheid with Africans being highly exploited, dispossessed of their land, with everything we experienced as political, the water we drank, the food we ate, the place we lived, transportation we used, education we received, the relationships we made, the songs we sang, it was indeed a time where the need for the recognition and protection of underrepresented workers in BWI sectors was undeniable and thus the primary motivation to fight and to join a global union of choice to furthers this goal!
- A global fight for gender equity and Labour Market free of Child Labour achieved, In the meantime
- Being entrusted to establish a new BWI regional office for Africa as a woman was daunting but the injustices that workers were facing in BWI Sectors far outweighed my personal reservations.
- In these moments, where I was asked to sacrifice my better life in Geneva free from racial discrimination: My personal conviction, my family my faith and spiritual pillars played a most significant role”.
- “It is because of a combination of the above and establishing trust and a capable BWI global team that I accepted the challenge.
Thank you to the BWI for recognising the potential in Crecentia Mofokeng to establish the BWI AME region.”
- “For supporting and trusting me in not only establishing the region but watching it grow and, in many respects, that lead the BWI to flourish in the region.”
- I am proud of BWI:
- Having the first and only BWI owned property in the African Soil.
- 1st Region to engage FIFA and signed a MOU ensuring decent work in Mega sports events & Long-Life sports campaign, that moves from region to region
- 1st Region to organise in Chinese MNCs
- Establishment of a women and youth structures as a must across BWI sectors.
- Capacity building and relationship building of many who are now general secretaries, presidents, members of parliament, leadership of National Centres in their Countries.
- I became the Chairperson of GUF FORUM and became part of unity struggles, democracy processes of our region for 18 years, recognition of the work it does and achieve.
- Member of the ITUC Africa General Council for 18 years and member of GRI Stakeholder council for 2 years.
- Representing BWI Regionally and Globally.
I am very proud of BWI:
- “For giving my life a platform of purpose and for allowing me to be part of a global family of activists that seek to improve the lives of workers worldwide”.
- “For being my home for more than 2 decades. A place where I uncovered my own strength, saw the power of understanding and solidarity, dreaming wildly and collaborating for a common good despite the borders, languages, cultures, religion and trades.”
- “for the privilege of serving the men and women who Fight for decent work, decent living and build the world.”
Cde Chair please allow me to express my Gratitude to my General Secretary Ambet Yuson for believing in me, it is in his leadership I led the biggest Campaign the world has seen, I was able to buy the BWI property in Glenvista and hosted a successful global Congress in 2017 together with Cde Matosa we were able to push through in BWI statutes an amendment for the Deputy President representing the Global South Our Former President Piet Matosa became the 1st to occupy this position. Thank you Ambet.
Allow me to thank Anita Normak and ULF Asp whom Ambet succeeded for discovering me and allowed me to show my Talent
I thank every member of the World Board and World Council who supported our regional motions for a better and sustainable region
I thank all my leaders in AFRECO Past and present Regional Presidency: Brother Wafula Wa Musamia from Kenya, the Late Baba El Madane Toure from Mali, Piet Matosa From South Africa, Late Babatunde Liadi from Nigeria, Amechi Asugwuni from Nigeria, Abdel Monem El Gamal from Egypt, Oloka Mesilamu from Uganda, Stephen Okoro from Nigeria, Phillip Vilakazi from South Africa, Julias Maine from Kenya, Ana Da Concesao Garcia from Angola, Edna Opoku Boakye from Ghana, Elizabeth Amuto from Uganda, Dr Forzet Mugabe from Zimbabwe, Georgina Smedley from Ghana, Justina Jonas from Namibia, Douglas from Nigeria, Lebohang Ramabolu from South Africa, Osei Poku from Ghana, Shayn Sinassamy from Mauritius and all affiliates in the Africa & Middle East Region and globally for their support for me, our region and BWI
Cde Stephen Okoro, Cde Phillip Vilakazi, Cde Julius Maine, Cde Georgina Smedley and Cde Shayn Sinassamy. I leave you with a message for leading our region to greater heights it is: Unity, consistency in growing membership in your unions and regions the stronger you are the more respectful you will command.
My gratitude to all our Partners We sincerely thank all the partners who believed in our Region and continue to support the growth of affiliates in our region. And to appeal for the continuation of this support to my successor Garikanai Shoko:
• FNV – FNV Mondial,
• U to U – LO, TCO, S**O Global
• SASK – Finish Construction Union
• 3F
• FES – TUCC
• Solidar Suisse
• SSGNE-IGBAU
• LO-NORWAY
• STYRKE-NORWAY
• ACV BIE
Please allow me to also thank Support Service organisations that are represented Cde Ernest Osaro Ebughe, for helping Build our Computer Networks in Braamfontein and Glenvista, Harly Gambanou for our AFRECO Reports, LRS and Many More in Kenya, West Africa etc.
I take this privilege to thank my Team members who have outdone themselves to reach our goals Our General Secretary called us the A Team as we were indeed the best team. Being a Team Leader who wanted the best of us all, with our captain who did not want any half-baked work, but smart and CSW, I may have trampled on toes please find peace in your heart I can assure you I believe I left something for you no one can take! I pride myself that everyone who worked in our Team become the best sailor Mr Shoko: I can name a few, Mustapha Said, Inviolata ‘Chinyangarara, Paul Opanga, Agnes Ochieng, Wassim Rifi, Karim Ouedraogo the list goes on. Thank you to all of you:
To the remaining Team I believe Mr Shoko is ready now and will keep what he learnt from me if any? Team can be the best with Communication, Consultation, Unity, Respect, Trust each other as well as the almighty.
To my family, friends, and support structure thank you for your unwavering patience and sacrifice, for being the quiet strength behind my loud voice and bravery on the frontlines, and for keeping the home standing during the countless nights and years that kept me away from home.
I thank my uncle and his wife as well as my cousin Zo for being part of this milestone and for being there during troubled sea.
Chair in the presents of everyone allow me to thank my late mother, Mama was my pillar of strength, she raised my children and made sure that each one was well grounded, and gave me the opportunity to lead our family and to become provider for her and the family, she made me to be head strong and smart thanks Mama.
To my Children Teboho and Masego and my son in-law Musa Thank you for sharing me and understanding, that no matter how difficult, that I am your mother, but I am also a mother to many others across Africa, the Middle East, and the world”.
- For being my sanctuary, sanity, source of hope and momentum, and anchor.
- For keeping me humble.
- for celebrating the wins and encouraging me through the losses and stalemates.
Closing words:
I leave behind a United region, a stronger and Inclusive leadership, a BWI and affiliates legacy in young, experience and committed staff as well as the regional office that affiliates must look after.
- I leave this position with a full heart and clean hands. I started as a young organiser and shop steward and now leave as the first female Regional Representative for Africa and the Middle East “who has led the region for more than two decades. I believe that you will use the momentum to push the region to greater heights.”
- Of course when God permits I will be available as an elder with wisdom and experience. “While you take over the frontlines of BWI work in the region and globally, I am keeping the door open and commit to assuming the position as an elder in BWI, ready to offer the wisdom of my grey hairs and the lessons of the decades of experience accumulated. I make this commitment to the regional and global leadership of the BWI, those I have crossed paths with here present, and others who may need an ear and guidance. I continue to say “together, and thinking outside of the box, we can move forward to ensure that workers enjoy above decent conditions and related benefits”. Proceed fearlessly, boundlessly, and focused”.
- Thank you to everyone who contributed to this event the National Union of Mine Workers – NUM and its Leadership, BWI Regional Presidium, BWI Africa Middle East Affiliates and Staff, The BWI Leadership Lead by our General Secretary, BWI Partners and Support organisations, BWI Global Team from HQ, Asia Pacific, Latin America & Europe and my Family for coming from the Freestate to celebrate this milestone with me.
“Shukran, Merci, Thank you, and Kea Leboha.”
Crecentia Mofokeng
“Mama Africa”
