President Cyril Ramaphosa reassured South Africans on Tuesday that his government was committed to improving their lives, especially that of the working class and the poor in the country.
The president said this in wake of his failure to address a May Day rally at Rustenburg’s Royal Bafokeng Stadium in North West province after he was booed off stage by protesting mineworkers on Sunday.
The miners have been on strike for three months now, demanding an annual salary increase of US$67 after rejecting a US$53 offer from their employers.
“The Sibanye-Stillwater gold mine workers made plain (at the stadium) what nearly every South African knows – the working class and the poor of our country are suffering,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “They made the firm point that we must do more, and act with greater urgency to address issues of unemployment, poverty, deprivation and hunger.”
He noted that his government must establish “more efficient mechanisms to enable workers to participate more fully in the formulation and implementation of policy and programmes.”
According to the South African leader, “the wage grievances of the workers in Rustenburg deserve the attention of all stakeholders, employers and labour so that a fair and sustainable settlement can be reached.”
“As government, we are committed to play our part,” Ramaphosa said, adding that the government would “take the necessary action to improve their lives and their working conditions.”
NM/jn/APA