South Africa: booed on May 1, Ramaphosa recognizes a “loss of confidence” among workers
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks to angry and booing miners, in Rustenburg, May 1, 2022. © Denis Farrell / AP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa decided to return in his weekly address to the nation on Tuesday May 3 to the events of May Day.
As he was due to address a small crowd of workers gathered at a stadium in Rustenburg, northwest of Johannesburg, the stage was taken over by an angry mob.
The president, who had to leave the premises, now claims to have “
heard
” this generalized anger within the country.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,
Claire Bargelès
It was angry miners demanding a pay rise that prompted the president to leave the stadium to boos and whistles on Sunday May 1.
Cosatu, the largest
trade union center in the country
, which organized the rally, could do nothing to control its troops, who put an end to the speeches.
"
This reflects the loss of confidence in their unions, their federation, as well as in political leaders and public institutions
", acknowledged Cyril Ramaphosa, who dedicated his weekly message to the incident and said "
understand their frustration
".
With unemployment at an all-time high of 35%, and
nearly half of the population living below the poverty line
, according to the World Bank, these workers voiced “
what every South African knows: that the working class and the poorest of the country suffer
”, declared the head of state.
This situation has been reinforced by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has further weakened an economy that was just emerging from years of corruption at the top of the state.
This protest movement is in any case a new blow for the ANC, losing momentum, election after election.
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South Africa
Cyril Ramaphosa