By Nkhetheni Muthavhi
Saturday marked exactly 39 years since the formation of our militant, class orientated and ideological union – the South African Municipal Workers Union – in Cape Town.
Samwu was born out of protracted unity talks and the merger of five unions, each with different dispositions and traditions. This process resulted in a unique and vibrant leadership collective that embodied a non-racial outlook aligned with the beliefs of the banned Congress Alliance.
We owe our existence to the words of Cosatu’s founding president, Elijah Barayi, who spoke during the federation’s first May Day celebration after its launch, when he said: “We urge all worker leaders… and all patriots in South Africa to work together, plan and coordinate our actions to win our freedom and break the chains of poverty and cheap labour which bind the majority of people in South Africa today.”
Our resolve was further amplified by
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