GOOD Speech by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament
08 May 2025
*Note to editor: This speech was delivered by GOOD Secretary-General & Member of the Western Cape Parliament Brett Herron during today’s debate on Workers Day.
Before we begin this debate, let’s just pause to acknowledge the deep irony of having it here in the Western Cape, a province where the leadership is actively campaigning against progressive changes to employment equity laws. To honour the sacrifices of workers while simultaneously fighting to entrench historical work privilege is not just contradictory, it’s outrageous.
Worker’s Day represents the profound sacrifices made by those who fought tirelessly for the rights we now hold dear. Workers’ Day is rooted in the struggles against apartheid-era labour exploitation, where workers demanded fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to unionize.
However, while we honour these historic victories, we must confront the pressing challenges that persist. Nationally, South Africa grapples with a staggering unemployment rate, with over 40% of our population unemployed. In the Western Cape, although the official unemployment rate stands at 19.6% as of the fourth quarter of 2024, this figure still represents a significant portion of our population.
Moreover, job creation efforts have been predominantly concentrated in major metropolitan areas, particularly Cape Town, which accounts for approximately 73% of the province’s GDP. This urban-centric development has marginalized our rural communities. For instance, regions like the Central Karoo face unemployment rates as high as 25.6%, highlighting the stark disparities within our province.
Young people in rural areas, small towns, and farming communities are being left behind, often forced to migrate or face a future without opportunity. The dignity of work is not a privilege; it is a right. If we are to truly honour the legacy of Workers’ Day, we must renew our fight for that right. We must strive for inclusive economic policies that address these regional disparities, ensuring that every worker, regardless of their postcode, has access to dignified employment opportunities.
The Western Cape Government must step up. Workers’ Day must be more than a commemoration; it must be a commitment to action.
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