Welcome Address By Premier T S P Makwetla At The 2007 May Day Rally,
Secunda

01 May 2007

Programme Director,

The Minister of Labour, Membathisi Mdladlana,

The Leadership of the ANC, represented by Cde Thoko Didiza,

The Leadership of COSATU, represented by the President Cde Willy Madisha,

The Leadership of the South African Communist Party, represented by the General Secretary Cde Blade Nzimande,

The Leadership of SANCO, represented by Cde.Roy Ledwaba,

The Working People of Mpumalanga and beyond

Comrades and compatriots,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen

May I take this opportunity to welcome you all to one of the key industrial production and employment areas of our province, SECUNDA.  In this town and district, workers have had a long tradition of struggle not only for the general improvement of their working and living conditions but for national liberation and democracy in general. 

It is most befitting that we celebrate the day of the Workers, May Day in the land of Gert Sibande, the Lion of the East and Leader among farm workers in the then eastern Transvaal.  In the congress tradition, Gert Sibande was both a workers’ leader and an African National Congress activist and later an ANC leader, and one of the accused in the Treason Trial of 1956 to 1961. As a farm labourer in the Bethal district, he emerged in the 1930s as an organiser, founding a farm workers' association and becoming a local spokesman for the ANC.  We draw inspiration from his memory and dedication to the freedom of both and downtrodden, oppressed and their oppressors.

At the opening of the legislature of Mpumalanga early this year we observed that while the economy of the province continued to generate substantial numbers of new jobs, we continued to fall short of the numbers that are joining the economically active population.  Both official and unofficial reports concur that an increasing number of South Africans are becoming self-employed.  On the one hand this may be indicative of an increase in entrepreneurship, on the other hand it may be indicative of the constraints faced by the formal economy to attract investment and create jobs.  The informalisation of employment is therefore a trend to be welcomed with great caution.

Program director, comrades, we are fully aware that a lot still has to be done to realise the implementation of both the Provincial Growth and Development summit as well as the Loskop summit on service delivery.  Together, those in government, business and labour we have a responsibility to identify and remove constraints to investment and job creation.  We take this challenge seriously and will continue to engage with business and labour to find solutions. 

May Day has come to symbolise the workers’ struggle for the general improvement of their working and living conditions.  We will remain alert to threats of poverty incomes, casualisation, health and safety and unemployment.  We must pay special attention to the working conditions of farm workers.

Today however, is a day to celebrate the hard won victories of the working people.  Once more allow me to welcome you all to this May Day celebrations and wish you a wonderful day.

Welcome and thank you!

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government