Civil society grouping calls for end to ‘austerity budget’
A group of civil society organisations believe an end to the government’s budget cuts is the only way to save the South African economy.
The Budget Justice Coalition (BJC) tabled its Imali Yesizwe (Our Nation’s Money) - an alternative, people’s budget based on human rights on Wednesday.
The coalition demands that more money be spent on various issues including education, especially early childhood development, gender-based violence, mental health and maintain per capita expenditure.
Section 27's Daniel McLaren said the only to grow the economy is to ensure larger budgets for key sections.
"We are calling for an end to this really negative death spiral on cuts upon cuts. We think the only way we are going to see a rebound in the economy and social services is if we put an end to these cuts.
"If we fund the agencies which need funding such the NPA, Stats SA and SARS and if we fund the key socio-economic rights.”
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He said in the continuous budget cuts only result in the poor getting even poorer.
"Austerity is problematic because when you cut school infrastructure budget - what happens is plans for the infrastructure projects are cancelled, we've seen this in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
"Now what this means that a company doesn't get a contract, workers may be laid off, families don't receive an income, the children not only now have to attend school that which still has illegal and unsafe sanitation but may be facing hunger.
"And this result in poor learning and leads to intergenerational poverty.”
