1 MAY 2000
Today workers worldwide celebrate May Day - International Workers Day -the most important day in the calendar of the working class. For South African workers the day marks the sixth May Day celebrations under conditions of democracy. This day, just like democracy was brought through the sweat and blood of the people of South Africa.
The Gauteng Provincial Government salutes workers in our province and country, for their positive role in the transformation of our country. Workers in our country can look back with pride at the country's achievements since April 1994, when millions who had been disenfranchised regained their right to vote.
Amidst all the challenges our country is facing - especially the moral and social wasteland created by apartheid's architects, the working people stand out as a beacon of hope. As our society battles to eliminate corruption crime and unemployment, millions of decent hardworking people struggle on a daily basis to make ends meet, yet remain committed to earning their livelihood through honest means.
Despite the many difficulties and obstacles on the transformation road, workers can not afford to abandon the process of change and transformation. Workers in this country know too well, for the first time in our history, their rights are guaranteed in the constitution. We have a Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act, Skills Development Act, Health and safety in the workplace, etc. All of these are aimed at improving the lives of working people.
We have repealed all racist and oppressive laws, which discriminated against people on the basis of race, gender, disability and other factors and enacted laws that guaranteed equality and the improvement of the quality of life for all the people, particularly the working people.
Greater numbers of South Africans now have access to adequate housing, health care, basic education, food, water, social and security grants.
Farm and domestic workers have benefited both in terms of services, as well as the protection of their rights, which have now been extended to them in terms of the labour legislation.
Since the June 1999, elections, we have in conjunction with national government, embarked on a number of initiatives and programmes in the areas of housing, infrastructure projects, school building and renovation and building of clinics.
While we have made important advances over the last five years, there is still more to be done, to improve particularly the lives of the working people, the unemployed and the poor.
We are still battling with a massive legacy left by decades of apartheid neglect. The levels of unemployment, poverty and hunger remain high and unacceptable. Tackling them remains the absolute priority of our government. But for us to succeed we need to work in partnership with all sectors of our society.
A better life must mean that people don't have to live in fear, and that their economic situation continuously improves. We have to make our streets and homes safe for all the people, especially women and children.
Criminal conduct and corruption by some in the police and correctional service remains a major obstacle to eradicating crime. We call on workers and unions in the criminal justice system to join hands with the government and communities to weed these elements out of the service. We need a professional and effective police force, which enjoys the trust of the community.
A lot of negative sentiments exist about the conduct of some workers in the public sector. Lack of commitment to servicing the community by some in the public sector, corrupt practices, and resistance by elements in the old bureaucracy to implementing the programme of the democratic government, has created a bad image for the public sector.
Those responsible for betraying the peoples trust in this way are also discrediting the tens of thousands of dedicated public sector workers who selflessly provide services to our people on a daily basis. We need to recognise that there are many health workers, teachers, police, local government and others who are delivering services to the best of their ability often under difficult conditions. We salute them for this.
At the same time we need to take action against those who are abusing taxpayers money, who are undermining trust in their fellow workers, and sabotaging the implementation of programmes designed to benefit our people.
We are now in a position, after five years experience the establishment of democratic local government institutions, to implement measures to make them more effective as institutions of democracy and governance. We will bring government even closer to the people without creating unnecessary bureaucracy, duplication, or fiefdoms.
In a few months, we will be holding the second democratic local government elections. Workers and their families should involve themselves in campaigns to ensure that voters turn up in great numbers at the polls to choose their local government representatives.
Workers throughout the world are the main defenders of democracy, social justice, peace and progress. The safety of democracy requires an even stronger progressive trade union movement. Just as you played a major role in the struggle to end apartheid tyranny, you must now be the shock troops for democracy and social transformation.
Issued by Office of the Premier
Gauteng Provincial Government