COSATU intensifies campaign against apartheid

the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)

Date: 16 Jul 1989
Updated: 16 Jul 2026

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

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South African History Online. (2011, March 16). COSATU intensifies campaign against apartheid. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012821

South African History Online (2011) 'COSATU intensifies campaign against apartheid', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012821 (Accessed: 20 September 2026).

South African History Online, COSATU intensifies campaign against apartheid [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012821, (accessed 20 September 2026).

"COSATU intensifies campaign against apartheid." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012821. Accessed 20 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "COSATU intensifies campaign against apartheid." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012821.