IOL News reports that the newly launched labour federation, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), has chosen its leadership at its founding congress.  Former Cosatu boss Zwelinzima Vavi was elected as general secretary.  

Saftu’s three-day congress started on Friday and ends on Sunday.  Those elected include; Numsa’s Mac Chabalala as President, Nomvume Ralarala as first deputy President and Motswari Letshogo as treasurer.  The leadership was nominated unopposed.  Delegates also agreed on the name, constitution, logo and colours of the organisation.  An issue debated was inter-union poaching of members.  It was agreed that unions should organise within the sectors that they were registered under at the Department of Labour.  The federation plans to go on an extensive recruitment campaign across the country with the aim of recruiting the 72% of workers who are non-unionized.

• Read this report by Zintle Mahlati in full at IOL News
• See too, Jay Naidoo tells Saftu to go back to the basics of organising power, at EWN
• And also, Vavi's new union federation is worker focused rather than political, at Cape Talk
• As well as, New federation Saftu promises to put workers first, at SABC News

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page