Trade Unions in South Africa were perceived as a response to racial disunity, with the earliest unions formed in the early 1900s. From the beginning, unions were pivotal in fighting for fair treatment and human rights in the work place for its members.
The former Gauteng premier Mbhazima Shilowa, is one such man who dedicated his life to climbing through the ranks of both the ANC and Trade Unions, from the early 1980s. He left the ANC in 2008, to start political party COPE with fellow comrade Mosiuoa Lekota, to contest the 2009 general election. Much to their dismay, the deterioration of this movement led to his retirement from politics.

In the 4th and final episode of Reflecting on 25 years of Democracy, Shilowa reflects on the realities of then and now. We spoke about the state of trade unions today, and whether the need for them is as important as it was 25 years ago…



