News / National
Ramaphosa booed, abandons workers day celebrations
01 May 2022 at 09:14hrs | Views
Cyril Ramaphosa had to leave Cosatu's Worker's Day rally in the North West in a police Nyala as aggrieved workers stormed the stage in the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday with cries of "he [Ramaphosa] must go!"
The workers were unhappy with Cosatu and the government's response to their demands as they have been striking for months.
The workers had been singing since the start of the Cosatu May Day event proceedings and vowed not to allow any of the leaders to address them.
With the workers still in the otherwise sparsely populated stands, Ramaphosa stood before them and tried to convince them he had heard their concerns and he would raise it with Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe.
As the programme continued, and with Ramaphosa back on the stage, the workers left the stands and moved across to the stage, with the police cordon doing little to stop them, despite a few scuffles.
As they neared the stage, the president addressed them while they were shouting: "He must go!"
Ramaphosa chuckled and said he had heard them.
"You want your R1 000," he added.
The striking workers at Sibanye's gold operations demand an R1 000 increase per year. The company is currently offering R800 increase each year, plus an annual R50 increase in the living out allowance.
"I understand that. You want the employers to give you R1 000. We've heard your message, and we will be dealing with that matter," Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa's words did not have the desired effect.
He left the stage, along with SACP leader Blade Nzimande and Cosatu leader Zingiswa Losi, escorted by the police. They entered a police Nyala and left the stadium.
The workers were unhappy with Cosatu and the government's response to their demands as they have been striking for months.
The workers had been singing since the start of the Cosatu May Day event proceedings and vowed not to allow any of the leaders to address them.
With the workers still in the otherwise sparsely populated stands, Ramaphosa stood before them and tried to convince them he had heard their concerns and he would raise it with Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe.
As the programme continued, and with Ramaphosa back on the stage, the workers left the stands and moved across to the stage, with the police cordon doing little to stop them, despite a few scuffles.
As they neared the stage, the president addressed them while they were shouting: "He must go!"
Ramaphosa chuckled and said he had heard them.
"You want your R1 000," he added.
The striking workers at Sibanye's gold operations demand an R1 000 increase per year. The company is currently offering R800 increase each year, plus an annual R50 increase in the living out allowance.
"I understand that. You want the employers to give you R1 000. We've heard your message, and we will be dealing with that matter," Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa's words did not have the desired effect.
He left the stage, along with SACP leader Blade Nzimande and Cosatu leader Zingiswa Losi, escorted by the police. They entered a police Nyala and left the stadium.
Source - online
