Historical Organization
Congress of South African Trade Unions
Congress of South African Trade Unions
Also known as: COSATU
Details
Organization Timeline
Workers establish COSATU
📅 30 November 1985Delegates from 33 unions launched a large nonracial federation committed to industrial organization and the wider struggle for democracy.
A bomb destroys COSATU House
📅 7 May 1987An explosion devastated the trade-union federation's Johannesburg headquarters amid state and covert attacks on democratic organizations.
The government restricts the UDF and allied organizations
📅 24 February 1988Seventeen democratic organizations were effectively prohibited from political activity, forcing opposition networks to reorganize through the Mass Democratic Movement.
ANC and COSATU allege security-force orchestration of violence
📅 17 August 1990The organizations cited forged pamphlets and other evidence suggesting elements of the security forces were aggravating township conflict.
Democratic organizations meet De Klerk about political violence
📅 11 September 1990ANC, UDF and COSATU representatives demanded government action as township killings threatened peaceful change.
The Patriotic Front Conference opens
📅 26 October 1991Dozens of anti-apartheid organizations called for an elected constituent assembly and an interim government to manage the transition.
The ANC begins an open-ended mass-action campaign
📅 16 June 1992Rallies and work stoppages demanded an interim government and an elected constituent assembly.
A forty-eight-hour general strike begins
📅 3 August 1992The Tripartite Alliance used mass action to demand an interim government, majority rule and effective measures against political violence.
The ANC adopts the Reconstruction and Development Programme
📅 21 January 1994The RDP connected political democracy with housing, services, jobs, land reform and social transformation.