SA set to get May 2 off too

Cape Town - Government has agreed to a union request that Friday May 2 be declared another public holiday.

According to a letter sent by vice-president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to leaders of political parties, the law specified that workers were entitled to 12 paying holiday days.

"This year, it so happened that two of these days, Human Rights Day and Good Friday, fell on the same day," said Mlambo-Ngcuka in the letter, of which a copy is with Beeld.

"One of our trade unions asked the president to therefore have an additional day declared a public holiday".

According to Mlambo-Ngcuka, President Mbeki had decided to, according to the law, declare May 2 as a public holiday.

"The Presidency feels that it is appropriate to inform Parliament and all political parties of the president's decision, before we go ahead and announce the May 2 public holiday".