Born in Cradock, Barayi hoped to study at the Fort Hare University, but his family were unable to afford tuition, so he instead became a clerk at the Department of Native Affairs.
He participated in the Defiance Campaign, presenting himself at a local police station without papers after curfew, for which he was sentenced to one month in prison.
[1][2] In 1981, Barayi met Cyril Ramaphosa, and this inspired him to become a founding member of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
In December, the NUM affiliated to the new Congress of South African Trade Unions, and Barayi was elected as its president.
[1][2] As COSATU president, Barayi strongly opposed the pass laws, and called for disinvestment in South Africa by foreign organisations.