UASA Media Release: 19 April 2023
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
The slight increases in the Consumer Price Index we have seen lately are bad news for workers. StatsSA reported this morning that the annual consumer price inflation was up to 7,1% in March 2023 from 7,0% in February 2023.
The consumer price index increased by 1,0% month-on-month in March 2023. The main contributors to the annual inflation rate were food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing and utilities, transport, and miscellaneous goods and services.
Add to this the recent repo rate hike by the South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, which raised the repo rate to 7.75%, high fuel prices, and electricity price hikes.
From July, city of Tshwane residents are expected to fork out 18% more for electricity and 9.2% more for water along with other metros. Workers are, again, expected to pay more for services that are not delivered amid power outages and water scarcity.
Workers bend over backwards to make ends meet without any relief in sight. How can we expect people to stay calm in an economy where they are always likely to pay more while disposable incomes shrink?
UASA calls on the government, stakeholders, municipalities and business owners to consider the cost of living for workers. Making consumers pay for government mistakes, lack of infrastructure maintenance, and corruption will only lead to dissatisfaction among workers and the unemployed.
UASA encourages its members and other South African workers to carefully consider household and other spending plans before opening their wallets. Challenging times lie ahead, and cool heads are needed.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.