The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) efforts to return the unions that left the federation over the years are underway, as it reflects on its 40th anniversary since it was formed. COSATU was formed on the 1st of December 1985 in Durban where Elijah Barayi was elected its first president.Its formation was a culmination of the hard work done by its predecessor, the South African Congress of Trade Unions (SACTU), a class orientated and revolutionary trade union movement under the banner of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, the Federation’s General Secretary Solly Phetoe said COSATU’s founding leaders would still be proud of how it is progressing amid the different political juncture that they find themselves under.
“We think that Elijah Barayi would be happy where he is because at the time when COSATU was formed in 1985 it was not like today in 2025. You will recall there were 33 unions affiliated to it under the difficult times of apartheid. COSATU has 16 unions affiliated to it following a decision to merge them together, and COSATU continues to represent the interests and fight for the rights of the workers,” said Phetoe. Furthermore, Phetoe sought to highlight some of the key milestones that the union has achieved since its formation.
“The labour relations Act that we have today, is because of a role that COSATU played in making sure that it is able to defend the rights of the workers. Yes, there are challenges as I said. The challenges of today are not the same as the challenges we had prior to the 1994 breakthrough. There were many unions, some fly-by-night that registered following the democratic dispensation and therefore it’s a challenge we are faced with. The unions are declining daily because of several challenges: the unemployment rate, the poverty and inequality facing workers in the country,” explained Phetoe.
The federation said that it is proud of the achievements it has scored over 40 years despite several challenges facing workers in general. “We are very happy as COSATU that we have managed to improve the labour relations Act for the benefit of the workers.We have managed to make sure that the conditions of the workers in some areas like the issue of national minimum wage where farmworkers are respected and enjoying their rights like other workers. There are many positive stories we can report as the federation including the first ever registration of unions representing taxi drivers and domestic workers,” noted Phetoe.Meanwhile, Phetoe said that they will not give up uniting the workers, including returning the unions that left the federation over the years.
“The economic challenges we are facing today requires a united trade union, and workers as well. We are in the discussion to unite workers; we have written a letter to NUMSA and FAWU to engage them to bring them back to COSATU. We are also engaging other unions that are not affiliated to COSATU,” explained Phetoe.
The National Union of metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) was expelled from COSATU in 2014, while Food and Allied workers union (FAWU) left the federation two years later in retaliation to the expulsion of the latter, the perceived silencing of COSATU on political and economic issues, and a general feeling that COSATU had become too aligned with the ruling party.
Phetoe says the federation has received messages of support and well wishes from its affiliate unions including Nehawu.
“Indeed, the anniversary presents an opportunity for COSATU to thoroughly reflect on the challenges facing the working-class and bring about concrete proposals on how the left-axis should reposition the socialist programme in the face of stagnation of the National Democratic Revolution,” read a statement from Nehawu.
