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The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is a Trade Union federation in South Africa . It was founded in 1985 and is the biggest of the country’s three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions, altogether organising 1.8 million workers. ESTABLISHMENT COSATU was established in 1985 following unity talks between competing unions and federations. At its launch it represented less than half a million workers organised in 33 unions, but saw rapid growth in its early years. Elijah Barayi was the organisation’s first president and served until 1991 . Other key leaders included Jay Naidoo and Cyril Ramaphosa . COSATU played a leading role in the struggle against apartheid, organising a range of highly effective wage strikes and also general strikes and mobilising support in factories and towns across the country. The most authoritative account of its early years is a book called Striking Back, written by a former COSATU leader Jeremy Baskin and covering the period from 1985 until the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990. AFFILIATED TRADE UNIONS
GOVERNMENT COSATU is part of an alliance with the ANC and the South African Communist Party , often called the Tripartite Alliance . COSATU’s role in the alliance has been the subject of debate, since the organisation has been critical of some of the ANC government's policies. While some affiliates have argued for greater independence from the ruling political party, others have argued that the arrangement gives COSATU a political influence beneficial to its members. LABOUR AND HIV/AIDS ZIMBABWE In October 2004 and February 2005 COSATU sent delegations to Zimbabwe to judge conditions in that country before the 2005 Zimbabwe Parliamentary Elections . They were expelled from the country on both occasions. Protests have been arranged at the Zimbabwe High Commission to take place on March 9 and March 16 , with a mass march to the commission on March 23 . Border blockades with Zimbabwe would occur on March 11 , and March 18 , with another mass march and night vigil on March 30 . CURRENT OFFICEHOLDERS
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