Founded in 1929 as the South African Electrical Workers Association (SAEWA), the union initially operated under the Electrical Workers Association of the UK.
By 1937, it was formally registered and expanded to Johannesburg, Durban, and the Highveld goldfields.
SAEWA became a key trade union for electrical workers, gaining official recognition with the Chamber of Mines and helping establish industrial councils like the MEIBC and NBCEI in the 1940s and 50s.
The 1956 Labour Relations Act restricted workers’ rights, especially for Black workers, but the 1979 Wiehahn Commission recommended allowing all workers to join unions, which led to the formation of COSATU and supported South Africa’s democratic transition in 1994.
After 1994, new labour laws reshaped the landscape, and SAEWA adapted to become a professional service provider for a diverse membership.
