Zuma asked for extra public holiday

Johannesburg - President Jacob Zuma has been asked to grant working South Africans an extra public holiday next year because Christmas falls on a Sunday.

"It came to our attention that during 2011, working South Africans will only enjoy 11 out of the 12 paid public holidays," said Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) general secretary Dennis George on Monday.

The organisation said with Christmas being on a Sunday, according to the Public Holiday Act, the Monday would have to be a holiday.

"However, Monday, December 26 2011 is the Day of Goodwill, meaning that it falls outside the ambit of the Public Holidays Act."

Fedusa said it hoped the president would grant an extra public holiday next year, to make up for the one lost in 2011.

Fedusa sent the letter on November 18 and was told to expect a response after the Cop 17 climate change conference, which ended on Sunday.