/ 19 March 2008

It’s official: May 2 to be additional day off

It is now official: May 2 is to be an additional public holiday.

At its fortnightly meeting in Cape Town on Wednesday, the Cabinet endorsed a proposal that it should be declared as an additional day off “to compensate workers for losing a public holiday as a result of Human Rights Day falling on the same day as Good Friday”.

A statement from Themba Maseko, the government spokesperson, said the president would shortly publish a proclamation in the Government Gazette formally declaring May 2 2008 as public holiday. This Proclamation will be issued in terms of the Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994.

The statement said the decision followed representations made by a number of stakeholders, including trade unions. — I-Net Bridge