South Africa has seen a notable 11% decline in trade union membership, losing approximately half a million members in the fiscal year ending March 2023. This represents the most substantial drop since 2004/5, bringing the total membership to 3.96 million. Factors contributing to this decline include job losses and a shift of workers to the informal sector, coupled with member disillusionment due to continuous strikes. Industries like mining, steel, vehicle manufacturing and the public sector maintain robust union participation, despite a global trend of decreasing union membership. The weakened influence of unions is linked to leadership lacking skills and capacity, creating a service gap that repels workers. While the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) reported a stabilization of around 1.6 million members, individual unions faced declines amid retrenchments. The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) recorded a loss of 250,000 members since COVID-19, sparking concerns of ongoing declines.
