Durban -
Cosatu members who have gathered at the Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban broke into a loud applause when President Jacob Zuma arrived at the federation’s May Day celebrations.
The thousands of workers also held up posters, pleading with Zuma to help them with a variety of employment related challenges.
Labour Minister, Mildred Oliphant has also joined the workers who began their celebrations with a peacefully marching through the city.
Speakers and union members have also used the event to speak against the recent violence against foreign nationals which took place in some part of Kwa-Zulu Natal and later spread to Johannesburg.
The Cosatu Kwa-Zulu Natal chairperson, Beauty Zibula appealed with workers to peacefully coexist with their colleagues and community members from other countries in the continent. She also stressed that although the federation was faced with a number of challenges, workers should not detract from the values which guide them.
“We are disciplined, no matter how much people provoke us, we must remain disciplined as Cosatu members,” said Zibula.
The federation has also received a message of support from Civic movement and partner in the alliance, Sanco. Its president Richard Mdakane appealed for equality on behalf of the working class.
"The economy should benefit all South Africans because we are all workers. It should not only assist a select few," he said.
Labour Bureau