The national budget unveiled on Wednesday has drawn sharp criticism from labor leaders, who argue that the government’s fiscal measures will do little to alleviate the struggles of the working class and may, in fact, deepen the hardship faced by the nation’s poorest citizens.
In a fiery reaction following the finance minister’s address, Dr. Wonder Mahlatsi, President of the United Africans Transformation (UAT), dismissed claims of an impending economic turnaround, insisting that the recovery touted by officials has not translated into relief for ordinary South Africans.
“No, I’ve indicated before. They’ve indicated that there is an economic turnaround. But the question is, is this turnaround felt by the ordinary South Africans, the poorest and the working class? The answer is no,” Dr. Mahlatsi stated.
The UAT leader singled out the increase in fuel levies as particularly damaging, characterizing the rise in petrol and diesel prices as regressive taxation that punishes those with the fewest resources.
“An increase in petrol and diesel is an attack on the poorest and the middle class,” he asserted.
Dr. Mahlatsi also expressed deep disappointment with the social grant adjustments, noting that a 9 percent increase falls far short of what is needed in the current economic climate. He argued the increment is insufficient to cover basic necessities for the elderly.
“You can see that there’s no chance for the older people to buy nutrition and other stuff,” he said. “So the answer is no.”
The union leader further criticized budgetary provisions for future contingencies, interpreting the allocation as evidence that the government is failing to treat hunger as a current crisis. He called for immediate redirection of resources to ensure aid reaches impoverished households directly.
“Our people are hungry. Take the money and ensure that the resources reach the poor households. That is what we are saying. Our people are hungry. Our people are landless,” Dr. Mahlatsi concluded.