The union says the date should honour the Marikana tragedy, which claimed the lives of 34 striking mineworkers in 2012.

While the union acknowledges the significance of International Workers’ Day, it argues that the Marikana massacre carries deeper relevance for South Africa’s working class, particularly in the mining sector. August 16 marks the day when police opened fire on mineworkers during a wage protest at what was then the Lonmin platinum mine, now operated by Sibanye-Stillwater, near Rustenburg in the North West province.

AMCU President Joseph Mathunjwa said the day should be officially recognised for what it represents in the history of labour struggles in the country.

“We are still calling on the government to recognise  August 16, 2012 as a Workers' Day in SA because it has got its own history, which informed the struggle of the workers particularly mineworkers in SA, fighting for economic emancipation,” said Mathunjwa.

The union has consistently commemorated the date as a turning point in labour activism, saying it symbolises the price workers continue to pay in the fight for fair wages and improved conditions. AMCU believes that shifting the public holiday would not only honour those who lost their lives but also ground the annual observance in SA's own socio-economic reality.

--ChannelAfrica--