Democratic Alliance (DA) federal leader John Steenhuizen said Labor Day should not be celebrated as more than 11 million people are unemployed in the country.
He was giving the main speech at the party's May Day celebrations at Mitchell's Plain on the Cape Flats.
Democratic Party leaders blamed the ruling party for allowing the unemployment rate to exceed 30%.
Steenhuisen said the holiday's name should be changed.
“According to the growing unemployment rate, more than 11.7 million people in South Africa are currently unable to find work. Therefore, while Labor Day is an international holiday celebrated all over the world, in South Africa the day has a different name. It is necessary. Today should not be called Labor Day because the ANC has a tradition of destroying jobs. Today is Jobless Day in South Africa.”
written oath
Mr Steenhuisen said his party had created eight out of 10 jobs in the country in the past five years. The DA has been running the Western Cape for nearly 10 years.
“Today I want to take a pledge to you: On May 29, if you re-elect the DA governing this province with a majority, everyone who wants to work in the Western Cape will be able to find a job. We will not rest until we do, which is why the DA's manifesto promises to create 800,000 new jobs in the Western Cape over the next five years.”
