South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa could not deliver his May Day speech as the gathering turned into protest grounds.
The President was about delivering his Workers Day Key Note speech when chaos broke out at the Cosatu rally in Rustenburg yesterday.
The angry workers forced their way towards the official stage chanting and heckling the president.
No amount of soothing words from Mr Ramaphosa and his Cosatu President Zingiswa Losi could stop them.
The angry workers mostly miners demanded the President addressed their salary concerns before speaking to them.
As the “you must go” chanting from the angry workers got louder, the president managed to respond.
“Ok that’s fine. I’ve heard you. We’ve heard you” the president said.
But the determined miners would not listen but kept heading towards the stage.
Mr Ramaphosa eventually had to abandoned his May Day speech and was whisked away by his security aids.
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The workers took to the stage singing and chanting following the president’s exit.
It took the Labour Federation more than five hours to restore calm at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
The Sibanye-Stillwater miners used the occasion to demand a R1,000 annually salary increment.
The gold mining company had earlier offered R800 which the workers have rejected.
They had been on a three-month long industrial strike pressing for better negotiation.
AMCU national treasurer, Jimmy Gama said the union has held several meetings with the workers in attempt to address their grievances.
He disclosed that the last meeting on the subject was held last week Monday.
Jimmy Gama described the workers as been “adamant” with their demands.
This is the first time that the South African workers union boycotted a May Day celebration in the country.
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