[1] Because unions representing black workers were not permitted to register, this meant they were excluded from the council.
A few retained links with TUCSA affiliates, and established the parallel Federation of Free African Trade Unions of South Africa.
[2] The federation was initially named the South African Trades Union Council.
[5] From 1979, unions were legally permitted to represent all workers, and several TUCSA affiliates began to do so.
In 1982, the council refused to join a general strike following the murder of Neil Aggett, and this led many unions to disaffiliate.