Fin24 reports that a new trade union federation will host its inaugural congress in April, its steering committee convenor, Zwelinzima Vavi, said on Wednesday.  

He indicated that 21 unions would be represented by 1,800 delegates for the gathering set for April 21 - 23.  He added that 17 other unions had not yet received a mandate to become part of the new federation.  Vavi, who was expelled from labour federation Cosatu in 2016, said workers needed unions that were independent of their bosses and political parties.  According to Vavi, 76% of the workers in the country were not union members and this was a sign that they had given up on the organisations meant to represent their rights.

• Read this report by Tshidi Madia at Fin24

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