Following the report of the Wiehahn Commission into trade unions in 1979, the South African Government, for the first time, permitted the creation of legal African trade unions. But the form and content of a trade union has now become the key issue, with the Pretoria government and managements trying desperately to establish tame unions that are not controlled directly by workers. The workers, on the other hand, are determined the participate in democratic unions of their own choice.

The government only allows legal status to unions which are registered with the Department of Labour. But it is the unregistered unions which are proving to be a thorn in the government's flesh. The soaring growth in the membership of unregistered unions, and charges that their leaders are also involved in political activities, are two of the reasons for the government's unease.