[1] It registered as an independent trade union, the South African Electrical Workers' Association, in 1939,[2] by which time it had branches in Johannesburg, Durban and the Highveld.
[1] It affiliated to the South African Trades and Labour Council (SAT&LC), and by 1947, it had 3,784 members.
[3] After the collapse of the SAT&LC, SAEWA joined the Trade Union Council of South Africa.
[4] By 1980, it had 17,000 members, and jointly constituted the Federation of Electrical Trades Unions of South Africa with the Electrical and Allied Trade Union of South Africa, representing "coloured" workers, and the Electrical and Allied Workers' Union of South Africa, representing black workers.
[6][7] SAEWA decided to broaden its remit, renaming itself as the "South African Equity Workers' Association", and recruiting in a wide variety of industries.