In celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), which was on 6 December 2015, the organization has scheduled celebrations throughout 2016. As part of the union’s celebrations, a nationwide rally is scheduled to take place on May Day this Sunday, May 1.

National Spokesman for COSATU, Sizwe Pamla explained that the organization is considered by many as a necessary mechanism, which provides recourse for workers who continue to fight for fair treatment and economic inclusion.

Pamla said that COSATU encourages individuals to recognize the significant role that workers play within society.

“We have to credit workers for having built the country and economy that we have today. They are the people who are really carrying the nation and the future of the nation.”

“In 1983, when we first reclaimed this day, which was not a public holiday at the time, workers decided that they were not going to beg but that they were going to demand,” Pamla said.

He said that COSATU as an organization, in reflecting on the past, can draw many lessons.

“For us to imagine a future that we want, we must really reflect on the past.”

Pamla further noted that COSATU made a conscious decision not to focus on issues pertaining to workers, but to also focus on issues of socio-economic inequality that affects society at large.

The organization plans to decentralise celebrations and have organized numerous rallies across the country, whilst the main rally is scheduled to take place in Morotele Park in Pretoria.

“We have taken this decision because as an organization we experienced a tragic event in the free state, where 50 workers enroute to Qwaqwa were involved in an accident and all died. To commemorate that sad loss we felt that we need to make sure that workers do not travel long distances to attend the celebration,” Pamla explained. VOC