Freedom Park joins the nation in celebrating Workers’ Day on 1 May 2025, paying tribute to the miners, nurses, teachers, cleaners, farmworkers, factory workers, civil servants, and countless others whose labour sustains our society.
“Their contributions extend beyond economic output, they stood at the forefront of the liberation struggle, shaping the democratic South Africa we know today,” read a statement from Freedom Park. "Workers’ Day is more than a commemoration of labour rights; it is a solemn reminder of the role played by trade unions and organised labour in dismantling apartheid. From mass strikes to civic protests, underground organising to visible defiance, the labour movement demonstrated that true political freedom cannot exist without economic justice.
“At Freedom Park, a national site of memory and reflection in Pretoria, we honour the worker leaders, union movements, and all who contributed to South Africa’s Resistance and Liberation Heritage. Their collective power helped expose apartheid’s inhumanity to the world, making their sacrifices an indelible part of our national consciousness.”
Advancing economic justice and workers’ rights
The statement further read, “As we commemorate this day, we are reminded that the journey toward economic justice is far from over. Liberation must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of the poor and marginalised. Organised labour remains a crucial force, advocating for decent work, safe conditions, fair wages, and inclusive growth.
In an era of rising inequality and unemployment, particularly affecting youth and women, workers’ rights must remain a central focus. It is imperative that government, labour, business, and civil society collaborate to protect employment security and ensure dignified work for all. “
Honouring the past, shaping the future
Dr Jane Mufamadi, CEO of Freedom Park said the story of South Africa’s liberation cannot be told without honoring the hands that built this nation, the hands that worked, resisted, and united. “On this Workers’ Day, we are reminded that our democracy was not only won at the ballot box but also on factory floors, in mine shafts, and through the brave defiance of the labour movement. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the ideals they fought for, for dignity, equity, and justice, become the lived reality of every South African.”
"We encourage all social partners to draw strength from the past as we work toward a just and humane future. This Workers’ Day, we honour both the memory of those who fought for freedom and the everyday heroes striving to build a better South Africa for all.”
#Conviction
Get your news on the go. Click here to follow the Conviction WhatsApp channel
