UASA Media Release: 19 February 2024
Statement by Abigail Moyo, spokesperson of the trade union UASA:
After Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s less than convincing State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this month, UASA expects the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, to at least deliver a National Budget Speech conducive to economic revival.
South Africans are done with fruitless, failing government promises and plans.
With the economy on the cusp of collapse, the least we expect is a proper outline of financial, economic and social commitments prioritising stabilised growth. We need a detailed expenditure plan for 2024, including proposals for improved revenue collection to help fund government’s planned interventions and obligations.
Tackling the challenges at hand will open doors for future development and growth. UASA demands:
• Sustainable financial intervention to curb the high unemployment rate and strengthen the economy. Without a feasible financial plan to increase employment opportunities, the economy will fall into a more profound depression, with numerous graduates remaining jobless without prospects.
• A solution regarding the energy crisis and a decisive move to Just Transition: For years, Eskom has failed to end the load-shedding disaster despite numerous financial injections from taxpayers’ funds.
• Turnaround plans for state-owned companies to operate like independent businesses without being propped up by government.
• Improved gross domestic product to boost the economy and lessen financial pressure on consumers.
• Transparent government expenditure to ensure accountability and end the looting of taxpayers’ money.
Years of failure, discussions, working groups, summits, task teams, commissions and empty promises have ended in disappointment without fail. UASA demands sustainable planning and development on the highest level to benefit our country. We demand interventions resulting in future growth and curbing further economic damage.
For further enquiries or to set up a personal interview, contact Abigail Moyo at 065 170 0162.