CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) led a massive demonstration to Parliament in Cape Town on Wednesday, demanding an immediate end to austerity measures and budget cuts. The march coincides with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabling the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), which outlines the government’s economic plan for the next three years.
Speaking to the crowds gathered ahead of the budget address, a COSATU spokesperson emphasized the urgent need for a “people’s budget” to combat a deepening social crisis. The union highlighted alarming national statistics, noting that more than 40% of the working-age labor force is currently unemployed. Furthermore, the country is experiencing its highest levels of hunger since 2010, with over 12% of households reporting that they go hungry on a weekly basis.
The spokesperson drew inspiration from global movements, pointing to youth-led protests in France, Spain, and Argentina. These international movements are similarly fighting against austerity, budget cuts, and the increased privatization of their respective economies.
“We know this kind of way of organizing the economy will never be able to meet people’s needs,” the COSATU representative stated. The union urged citizens to draw inspiration from these international movements and put tens of thousands of people on the streets to pressure the government into prioritizing the majority over the wealthy elite.
Addressing recent social tensions and misdirected public frustration, the union leader strongly condemned the scapegoating of foreign nationals.
“Some of us are blaming the wrong culprits for the problem,” the spokesperson noted, criticizing those who attack and attempt to deport migrants from other African countries. The union stressed that xenophobic actions will neither reduce the level of unemployment nor improve local service delivery.
As the Finance Minister prepared to deliver the fiscal blueprint, the union’s core message remained clear to the cheering crowds: the current administration is “favoring the bosses” rather than the millions of citizens who put them into power and whose basic needs remain unmet.
