This is a strange and rather uplifting story. I had a small role in it when I joined what was called the “Wages Commission”, at the University of Cape Town in 1973. We were white students and lecturers but our aim was to end the poverty wages being paid by commerce, industry and the University to black workers.

It turned out to be the most successful project we ever launched – because of the courage of the men and women who were organisers: hired from Cape Town’s black townships. It led to unionisation and finally the emergence of the Congress of South African Trade Unions – COSATU – whose members became the backbone of the fight against apartheid. Zora Mehlomakhulu (seen below at the front desk) was critical to the work. 

It is a story that is often ignored, but you can read it here.

Martin

The Re-Emergence of Black Unions in the Western CapeDownload