Workers' Day: Unemployment will continue to worsen under ANC rule, says DA's Steenhuisen

CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has used the May Day celebration to criticise the poor progress made by the government to address poverty, inequality and unemployment.

As the world celebrated International Workers Day on Wednesday, the official opposition party said many South Africans couldn't join in the celebrations because of joblessness.

More than 32% of the population is unemployed.

Addressing a DA workers' rally in Cape Town, party leader John Steenhuisen warned that unemployment would continue to worsen should South Africans keep the African National Congress (ANC) in power after the May 29 general elections.

ALSO READ: 

• Workers' Day means little as unfair labour practices persist, say Hammanskraal workers
• Little to celebrate this Workers' Day, say some political parties
• DA calls supporters to vote ANC out at Workers' Day commemoration

Steenhuisen said there was little cause for celebration while 30 million South Africans are still poor.

He told DA supporters the only way to change the status quo is for people to remove the ANC from government.

Steenhuisen also accused the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) of being the enemy of the unemployed.

“We’re the party that’s standing up and giving a voice to the people who don’t have a job. COSATU only protects those people who have a job, and we are looking to protect the people who don’t have a job."

He added that for the past 30 years in government, the ANC had destroyed the dreams and hopes of many South Africans.