The Presidency has denied reports that it intends to declare May 2 a public holiday, saying the issue has not yet been finalised.
”The president received a letter from Fedusa [the Federation of Unions of South Africa] requesting a public holiday on Thursday,” presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga told the Mail & Guardian Online on Tuesday.
”The president consulted with the deputy president and other political parties in Parliament in this regard. The decision on this matter is still in process and Parliament will issue a statement as soon as the decision has been made,” he said.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions and Fedusa have called on the president to declare this Thursday a public holiday because Human Rights Day and Good Friday both fall on the same day, on Friday.
Talk Radio 702’s Eyewitness News reported, however, that President Thabo Mbeki would not declare this Thursday a holiday, but would instead give South Africans a day off on Friday May 2 — the day after the Workers’ Day public holiday on Thursday May 1.
Eyewitness News said it was in possession of a letter written by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, addressed to leaders of all political parties, in which the deputy president says she intends declaring May 2 a public holiday.
However, Ratshitanga told the South African Press Association that Ngcuka was merely making a suggestion. ”She made a proposal in her capacity as leader of government business,” he said.