The federation had sent a letter to President Jacob Zuma on 18 November, asking for workers in South Africa to be granted an additional public holiday next year.
"It came to our attention that during 2012, working South Africans will only enjoy 11 out of the 12 paid public holidays. One of our affiliates, the National Union of Leather and Allied Workers (NULAW) raised the point that Christmas falls on a Sunday in 2011 and, in terms of the Public Holidays Act it would mean that the subsequent Monday would be a public holiday.
"However, Monday 26 December 2011 is the Day of Goodwill, meaning that it falls outside the ambit of the Public Holidays Act as it stands. The last time this occurred was in December of 2005," explained FEDUSA general secretary, Dennis George.
Motlanthe on Wednesday declared 27 December a public holiday throughout the country in terms of Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act, 1994.
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