Commit anew to the principles of May Day

ON THIS May Day, we pause to honour the long and difficult journey of South African workers. This journey was never just about wages - it was a revolution to dismantle the apartheid system and its oppressive and unjust workplace laws.

- NKOSENHLE MADLALA

This history resonates deeply with the legacy preserved at our very own KwaMuhle Museum. The museum stands as a powerful tribute to the struggles and triumphs of workers, particularly Black workers, under apartheid. Its exhibits vividly document the brutal realities of the migrant labour system, the dehumanising pass laws, and the tireless fight for basic human and labour rights.

That is why Workers’ Day holds such deep significance. It is not merely a public holiday; it is a solemn commemoration of the sacrifices made by countless individuals who resisted exploitation and fought for fair treatment. At its heart, it was a struggle for dignity, fairness, justice, and freedom. The echoes of their courage still reverberats through the walls of the KwaMuhle Museum, reminding us of the long, painful road toward labour justice in South Africa. Durban holds a special place in this journey. In January 1973, more than 100 000 workers rose up in a wave of strikes to demand an end to exploitative labour practices.