On this Workers’ Day, 1 May 2025, Freedom Park joins the nation in paying tribute to the working
people of South Africa — the miners, nurses, teachers, cleaners, farmworkers, factory workers, civil
servants, and the many others whose labour sustains our society and who stood courageously on
the frontlines of the liberation struggle.
Workers’ Day is not only a celebration of hard-won labour rights, but also a solemn reminder of the
critical role that the labour force and trade unions played in dismantling apartheid and shaping the
democratic nation we live in today. From mass strikes to civic protests, from underground organising
to visible defiance, the workers of this country — united through organized labour — made it clear
that there can be no political freedom without economic justice.
At Freedom Park, a national site of memory and reflection, we honour the legacy of worker leaders,
union movements, and all who contributed to the Resistance and Liberation Heritage. The courage
and collective power of the labour movement helped force global attention on the inhumanity of
apartheid, and their sacrifices must remain etched in our national consciousness.
But the journey is far from over.
“As we commemorate Workers’ Day, we are called to action — to ensure that the freedoms
achieved through struggle translate into tangible improvements in the lives of the poor and
marginalized. Organized labour must continue to be powerful voices for the voiceless, advocating
for decent work, safe conditions, fair wages, and inclusive growth. In an era of rising inequality and
unemployment, particularly among youth and women, their role remains vital” said Dr. Jane
Mufamadi, CEO of Freedom Park
“The story of our liberation cannot be told without honouring the hands that built this nation — the
hands that worked, resisted, and united. On this Workers’ Day, we are reminded that our democracy
was not only won at the ballot box, but also on the factory floors, in the mine shafts, and through the
brave defiance of the labour movement. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the ideals
they fought for — dignity, equity, and justice — become the lived reality of every South African.”
Freedom Park encourages all social partners — government, labour, business, and civil society —
to work together to protect workers’ rights and create meaningful opportunities that advance dignity
and equity.
“Let us draw strength from the past to shape a just and humane future. This Workers’ Day, we
honour not only the memory of those who fought for our freedom, but also the workers of today —
the everyday heroes still striving to build a better South Africa for all,” Mufamadi concluded.
Issued by:
Freedom Park Communications Office
For more information, contact Tebogo Ramutloa on (012) 336 4144 /
tebogo@freedompark.co.za
www.freedompark.co.za
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