This year’s Workers’ Day is marked by high unemployment rates, particularly among the youth. Celebrations are set for May 1, 2026, at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) will host the national event coinciding with its 40th Anniversary.
Key facts:
- Preparations are underway for International Workers Day celebrations at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium.
- COSATU President Zingiswa Losi will deliver the keynote address reflecting on the state of the trade union movement.
- Workers will gather at the Bultfontein Stadium for the Free State Workers’ Day commemoration event led by COSATU.
- The official unemployment rate in South Africa stood at 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
- About 34.0% of people aged 15 to 24 were not in employment, education, or training during that same period.
- International Workers’ Day was first celebrated in South Africa in 1986 and was officially recognized as a public holiday in 1995.
Zingiswa Losi stated, “May Day was born out of struggle – the fight for an 8-hour working day, the right to organise, the right to live with dignity.” Yet many view this day as a reminder of ongoing issues rather than a celebration. One observer remarked, “It is almost impossible to call Workers’ Day a celebration, and even Freedom Day is a problematic concept.”
The context surrounding this year’s celebrations reflects persistent challenges in job creation within South Africa. Youth unemployment remains a critical issue as many young individuals find themselves excluded from both work and education.
