Various labour unions encouraged their members to join Labour Day rallies.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), the National Union of Mine Workers (NUMSA) urged members to join the COSATU May Day rallies in all nine provinces.
“Tomorrow we rally behind the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the working class. The struggles of the working class are fundamental to driving economic, social, and political change, acting as a catalyst for challenging exploitation, enhancing labor rights, and fighting for democratic equality” said SADTU across its social media platforms.
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) has done the same, urging its members to join the COSATU May Day commemorations throughout the country.
“The nurses will also express their unhappiness over the regressive Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), whose ridiculous 9.5 percent increase in February 2026 has taken from the workers’ disposable income and deprived the millions of public servants of the necessary healthcare benefits that they have paid for.
COSATU, the federation that DENOSA is an affiliate of, will be hosting various events throughout the country, where leaders of DENOSA both nationally and provincially have been deployed to address the workers.”
The high vacancy rates and non-absorption of recently qualified nurses; overcrowding in facilities” are among some of the challenges the union wants voiced, on Friday.
In addition, poor pay as well as severe shortage of staff in facilities, are others.
COSATU events are at the Limpopo National Rally- Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, in Polokwane.
#Western Cape: Mbekweni Sports Stadium, Paarl.
#Free State: Bultfontein Stadium, Bultfontein.
#Eastern Cape: Nangoza Jebe Hall, New Brighton, Gqeberha.
#BCM City Hall, kuGompo.
Tobi Kula Indoor Sports Centre, Komani.
#Lusikisiki College Great Hall.
#Gauteng: Tsakane Stadium, Brakpan
#KwaZulu-Natal: Curries Fountain Stadium, Durban
#Mpumalanga: Kamagugu Stadium, Mbombela
#Northern Cape: Galeshewe Open Air Arena, Kimberley
#North West: Olympia Stadium, Rustenburg