Bheki Ntshalintshali is a South African trade union leader. Born Veli Ntshalintshali, he was given the name "Bheki" by an official, when he first applied for identity documents. He undertook some training as a librarian and teacher, but had to quit to support his family, moving to

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Dem ...

, where after several deportations, he found work driving a taxi for his uncle. He soon became a taxi owner, and decided to return home, as operating taxis in Johannesburg was dangerous, and he wished to return to his studies. Ntshalintshali was arrested for driving a taxi outside its licensed area. This was a minor offence, but in court he was additionally charged with involvement in terrorism. He had to report monthly for two years, when the charge was dropped, and he was merely fined R50 for the driving offence. As the charge had prevented him from studying, he instead found work at

Sasol Sasol Limited is an integrated energy and chemical company based in Sandton, South Africa. The company was formed in 1950 in Sasolburg, South Africa and built on processes that were first developed by German chemists and engineers in the early ...

, where he joined the Chemical Workers' Industrial Union (CWIU). He was elected as a

shop steward A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a labor union member and official. Rank-and-file members of the union hold ...

, but lost his job in 1984 for participating in a walkout. In 1994, Ntshalintshali was elected as deputy general secretary of the CWIU, but stood down the following year, to study in England. He returned to South Africa in 1996, and took part in the talks which merged the CWIU into the new

Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union The Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers' Union (CEPPWAWU) is a trade union representing workers in various industries in South Africa. The union was formed through the merger of the Chemical Workers' Industrial Union (CW ...

. Later in the year, he became the organising secretary of the

Congress of South African Trade Unions The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is a trade union federation in South Africa. It was founded in 1985 and is the largest of the country's three main trade union federations, with 21 affiliated trade unions.One Union expelled, ...

(COSATU), rising to become deputy general secretary. Ntshalintshali was elected as general secretary of COSATU in 2015.

References

{{COSATU Living people Year of birth missing (living people) South African trade union leaders