GOVERNMENT needs to acknowledge that the deepening socioeconomic crises in South Africa come from the ‘misguided macroeconomic policy framework that has been implemented over the years’.
This is according to trade union federation Cosatu as it anticipates the State of the Nation Address on Thursday to be delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The labour federation said these socioeconomic issues emanate from the erroneous macroeconomic policy framework that has been implemented over the years.
“Workers expect the President to announce plans for his government to move away from economic policies that are suffocating the economy and that have left half the adult working population unemployed,”COSATU said in a statement.
“We expect to hear about progress since the last SONA, in 2021, on government’s interventions to rebuild the state, tackle corruption, grow the economy, create jobs, and roll out the vaccines.“
COSATU has applauded the government for the provision of the R350 SRD Grant to over 10 million South Africans during the pandemic.
The grant expires in March and demands for the implementation of a permanent Basic Income Grant have deepened.
COSATU called on government to extended the grant beyond March 2022 and “to be increased to the food poverty line of R624. This offers the country a solid and affordable foundation for a Basic Income Grant”.
COSATU further said that the fall of South Africa’s SOEs remains ‘deeply concerning’, with Transnet, Prasa, Denel, the Post Office, and SABC all facing financial difficulties.
“The systematic destruction of Transnet and PRASA needs to be decisively dealt with. Their functioning is critical to getting mining, agricultural, and manufacturing goods as well as workers to their destinations safely and on time.”
“The Zondo Commission into state capture and corruption has provided clear recommendations on measures to tackle corruption. The government needs to act on these, including tabling the necessary legislative amendments at Parliament,” COSATU added.
- * Inside Politics
