Zwelinzima vavi biography examples

South African trade union leader

Zwelinzima Vavi (born 20 December 1962^[1][2]) is the General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU). He is the former general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), and vice-chairperson of the Millennium Labour Council.

Early life

Vavi was born on a farm in Hanover, Northern Cape, with a mineworker father, four brothers and seven sisters. Until he was baptised, he did not know the date of his birthday.^[1] He was a child labourer, looking for work among neighbouring farms.

Zwelinzima vavi biography examples in english

In 1987 Vavi worked in a gold-mining territory of Klerksdorp and Orkney. He was a uranium plant clerk at Vaal Reefs mine, and joined the National Union of Mineworkers as an organizer. He was fired from AngloGold in 1987 following a massive miners' strike which crippled the Chamber of Mines. He then joined COSATU as a volunteer.

COSATU

In 1988, he became COSATU's regi