Two of South Africa’s most influential labour organisations, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), will this week mark major anniversaries, highlighting their roles in shaping the country’s labour and political landscape. The NUM is set to celebrate its 43rd anniversary on Thursday at Great Noligwa Moab Khotsong in Motlosana, while COSATU will mark 40 years since its founding on Saturday at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
The NUM was established on December 4 1982, in Klerksdorp, becoming South Africa’s first major union for black mineworkers. Led by its founding leadership of Cyril Ramaphosa as general secretary, James Motlatsi as president and Elijah Barayi as deputy president, the union expanded rapidly. It gained formal recognition from the Chamber of Mines in 1983 and became one of the fastest-growing unions globally during the 1980s. The NUM was also instrumental in the formation of COSATU in 1985 and has since broadened its membership base beyond mining to include workers in the energy, construction and metal industries.
COSATU, founded on December 1 1985, emerged as a unifying platform bringing together fragmented unions under the principle of one industry, one union. Its first president, Elijah Barayi, who came from the NUM’s leadership ranks, played a central role in positioning the federation in the struggle against apartheid. COSATU went on to lead national campaigns for the release of political prisoners, workers’ rights and the living wage. In the democratic era, the federation has influenced key labour reforms, including the introduction of the national minimum wage and expanded protections for vulnerable workers.
Both organisations are encouraging workers across all sectors to join the upcoming commemorations, which will reflect on their histories, achievements and continued influence in the labour movement. NUM general secretary Mpho Phakedi and national spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu are available for further information on the events.
