Cosatu urges pro-worker Budget to end austerity and tackle unemployment crisis

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table the National Budget Review next week Wednesday in Parliament. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) alongside millions keenly awaits theBudgetand Medium-Term Expenditure Framework due to be tabled at Parliament this week. The challenges facing the working class and society are dire, in spite of important areas of green shoots.

The Budget must be grounded upon the lived realities of workers, the unemployed and the economy. The government needs to avoid the temptation to treat the Budget as a question of balancing the books. It must provide meaningful relief to workers and the poor and give hope to society that South Africa is turning the corner for the better.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’sState of the Nation Address(SONA) highlighted the pain felt by millions from our dangerously high 41.1% unemployment rate, to weak 1% economic growth, to embattled public and municipal services. Whilst SONA outlined government’s plans, the Budget needs to match these with the funds if they are to materialise. Government needs to appreciate that society’s patience is not limitless, and in many instances, it is rapidly evaporating.

[paywall]

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana correctly called for an end to austerity budgets in his 2025 Budget speech(es) to Parliament. 2026 needs to see a decisive break with the decade plus cycle of reckless budget cuts that have brought many public and municipal services to the brink of collapse.

[/paywall]