By Khabonina Mdokwe
Youth unemployment topped the conversation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) at Curries Fountain in Durban on Workers’ Day.
“Youth unemployment rate is ranging at 59.6%, including people from the ages of 15 to 24 years of age,” said COSATU Deputy Secretary General Gerald Twala as he addressed the crowd.
The biggest party in South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), the African National Congress (ANC), was visible through a number of delegates that include deputy president Paul Mashatile, former police minister Bheki Cele and KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma. The ANC is a member of the tripartite alliance with COSATU and the South African Communist Party (SACP).
Twala told those present that COSATU fought for workers when they had very few rights during apartheid. “One industry, One federation is what COSATU stood for 40 years ago and still stands for that today,” he said.
In his message, Mashatile said those in attendance must remember that it’s the workers that led a lot of anti-apartheid action through protest marches and stay-aways. “We want the voices of the workers to be dominant in economic dialogue,” said Mashatile.
This year’s Workers’ Day came at a time of increased unemployment all over the world and bitter economic feuds between the world biggest two economies, the United States of America (USA) and China. South Africa hasn’t been spared as America instituted tariffs on goods from South Africa which might lead to less demand for them and result in possible layoffs. Because of economic woes, finance minister Enoch Godongwanda had implemented a now reversed Value Added Tax (VAT) increase.
All these issues lead to some saying such gatherings are meaningless. “I don’t see the need to host such celebration because people work under poor conditions. The minimum wages we get do not match the amount of work we do,” said Durban local Sibahle Sokhulu.
But those who may feel forgotten during their daily slot say they value the public holiday.
“As a nurse working at a public clinic, I feel I should be celebrated. We work under pressure more often than we should. We are under staffed because the government refuses to employ more people and therefore we handle more patients than we should and work long hours,” said Pumeza Ndamase who is another local.
This year, Freedom Day and Workers Day fell in the same week which led to the government deciding to give public schools time off for the entire week, something that many teachers shared appreciation of on social media.
