A group of civil society organisations, trade unions, and community groups under the banner of People Against Budget Cuts have gathered in Cape Town, Western Province, South Africa (SA) ahead of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement this afternoon, calling on government to stop austerity measures that they say are hurting ordinary citizens.
Alternative Information And Development Centre Tax Justice Project Officer Chloe van Biljon is arguing that spending cuts have led to job losses, frozen wages, and underfunded public services like healthcare and education.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will deliver the statement during a sitting of the National Assembly in Parliament, in the afternoon.
Meanwhile the deputy leader of Build One SA, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, says the party expects Godongwana to address issues of funding to encourage growth in the country, when he tables the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement this afternoon.
She added that they also expect Godongwana to touch on issues like unemployment.
Also, Umkhonto weSizwe Party Chief Whip Des van Rooyen says his party is not optimistic about the budget speech.
He says the budget process lacks credibility because the basis on which it is executed, is wrong.
–SABC–
