[1] The party was founded in March 2019 after a pre-launch convention at the end of 2018.

[2] The roots of the SRWP lie in the split between the NUMSA union and the COSATU federation in 2013.

[3] The split was mainly caused by the growing discontention of the NUMSA leadership with the ANC, which is supported by the COSATU through the Tripartite Alliance, together with the South African Communist Party.

After the split NUMSA general-secretary Irvin Jim announced the formation of a "a new united front".

The launch in December 2018 was attended by 1,100 delegates from all provinces of South Africa in Boksburg, with delegations from residence associations and members of SAFTU unions in attendance.