16 July 1989
South Africa's largest labour federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), held its third annual congress from 12-16 July 1989. The congress, attended by 1858 delegates representing a membership of 924,000, adopted several resolutions. It called on its members and supporters to join a campaign of sustained action against apartheid in the week before the country's general elections on 6 September and also launched the Workers' Charter Campaign. The mood was defiant and banners of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and African National Congress (ANC), both still banned at the time, decorated the hall. References: South African History Online http://www.cosatu.org.za/shop/ss0406-26.html