Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
30 October 2024 | 13:46 CAT

Cosatu urges the Minister to avoid a business-as-usual approach to ills. (Business Day)

With the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) set to be delivered today, COSATU urges Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to table a budget that prioritizes workers and addresses South Africa’s deepening socioeconomic challenges. Speaking ahead of the MTBPS, COSATU’s Malvern Du Bruyn stressed that it is time to shift the government’s focus toward policies that benefit workers and the poor rather than large businesses.

“The government claims there is no money, yet they find funds to bail out state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and maintain a bloated cabinet,” said Du Bruyn in an interview with Radio Islam International. “If they can do that, they can surely allocate resources toward job creation and supporting the working class, who keep this economy alive.”

Du Bruyn highlighted key areas where government intervention urgently needs: reducing food and fuel prices, creating sustainable jobs, and expanding social grants. “The skyrocketing food and petrol prices are choking workers. If we address these issues, we will ease the financial burden on families and improve their quality of life,” he noted.

However, balancing fiscal consolidation with much-needed social spending remains a challenge. Du Bruyn warned against austerity measures that could harm job security, given the government’s role as a major employer, directly and indirectly through contracting and outsourcing. “Budget cuts will not only affect workers but also disrupt essential services. Investment in job creation will reduce dependency on social grants and feed money back into the economy through taxes and consumption,” he argued.

COSATU and civil society organizations plan to stage a nationwide picket ahead of the budget speech to amplify their demands. “We are calling on the government to integrate EPWP workers into permanent positions within municipalities. We need sustainable jobs, not temporary solutions,” said Du Bruyn.

He added that the government’s response will have political consequences, especially with national elections approaching in 2026. “Workers and the poor will remember if their pleas are ignored. We need a budget that delivers real change—one that uplifts the working class and builds a more inclusive economy,” Du Bruyn emphasized.

As the MTBPS draws near, all eyes are on Godongwana to see whether the government will heed these calls and adopt a more worker-friendly economic plan.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Malvern Du Bruyn here.