COSATU post-May Day statement
2 May 2022
The Congress of South African Trade Unions salutes and congratulate the thousands of workers, who took time this past Sunday to participate in our nationwide May Day celebrations. Thousands of workers participated in our May Day events all across the country.
This is quite laudable considering that this worker’s holiday took place over a long weekend that coincided with a month end. Most workers who are victims of a migrant labour system left the big cities to visit their families in other provinces and rural areas. Many of our May Day events were characterized by discipline and a celebratory atmosphere.
The Federation remembers the victims of the Bethlehem bus crash that killed 53 workers on their way to QwaQwa on the 1st of May 2003. We will never forget those workers and every May Day remains a sad reminder of that tragedy.
We thank our affiliates for mobilising workers and providing transport for them. We send our message of solidarity to the people of KwaZulu-Natal who are still recovering from last month’s devastating floods.