South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), higher tax, national shutdown, Wednesday, 24 August 2022, electricity tariff increases, petrol price increase, rising cost of petrol, Government

SAFTU proposed that the wealthy people of SA be taxed more to assist with financing some of the needs they put forward. Photo: @SAFTU_media / Twitter and Yoann JEZEQUEL / Flickr

SAFTU calls for higher tax for wealthy locals ahead of shutdown

SAFTU has made calls for a higher tax for wealthy people explaining that this would be able to finance some of the needs they put forward.

South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), higher tax, national shutdown, Wednesday, 24 August 2022, electricity tariff increases, petrol price increase, rising cost of petrol, Government

SAFTU proposed that the wealthy people of SA be taxed more to assist with financing some of the needs they put forward. Photo: @SAFTU_media / Twitter and Yoann JEZEQUEL / Flickr

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) will be hosting a march on Wednesday, 24 August, if the Government does not meet their demands.

SAFTU wants the focus to be on the unemployed persons of SA, electricity tariffs and the rising cost of petrol. The union believes that Government has the ability to redirect funds to address pressing issues such as unemployment.

SAFTU addresses higher taxes for the wealthy and the reason they proposed this

Spokesperson for SAFTU Trevor Shaku spoke about a higher tax for richer citizens, reports EWN. Shaku said that this will ensure that they are able to finance some of the needs the union is putting forward.

“And because they are using a neoliberal fiscal policy framework be able then to ensure that on the basis of the taxation, they are able to finance some of the needs which we are putting forward and some of the needs which we arise,” said Shaku.

Union talks about Government’s ability to redirect funds

Speaking about the government, SAFTU says the Government can never have constraints in terms of expenditure.

“The government, which has a monetary sovereign system like South Africa, where the central bank of South Africa, the South African Reserve Bank, is the currency issuer, can never have constraints in as far as expenditure is concerned. The only constraints it would have, of course, will be considering the inflation pressure which more money may have,” said Shaku.

SAFTU will be protesting on Wednesday, 24 August, against a number of issues in seven provinces. Photo: @SAFTU_media / Twitter

SAFTU wants R1500 grant for 12.4m unemployed South Africans

Meanwhile, it was reported that SAFTU held a press briefing ahead of the national shutdown planned for Wednesday, 24 August. According to the union, over 200 working-class formations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other civil society groups are expected to participate in the shutdown, which is meant to defend the interests of the working class.

Secretary-General, Zwelinzima Vavi, commented on the rising cost of living and said many workers are losing buying power as their wages are frozen or increased below the consumer price index. 

“That is why we need to fight for a living wage, since the current national minimum wage of R23,19, per hour, which is R3 895,92 for workers working 21 days per month, is R800 less than the cost of the household food grocery,” said Vavi. Read the full story here.