Government accused of slapping teachers in the face with new budget announcements
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) says Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement is a slap in the face to public servants including educators.
The union says the midterm budget is clearly showing the unpreparedness of Treasury to honour the last leg of the wage increase agreement signed in 2018 and which would have ensured salary increments for public sector employees, including educators.
"The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement delivered by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has left SADTU, the largest union in the education and public service sector with no joy. It is a slap in the face to hard-working educators and public servants," says SADTU spokesperson Nomusa Cembi.
Cembi has reacted to the statement by Mboweni in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon that government proposes a freeze on all salary increases over the next three years.
LISTEN TO NOMUSA CEMBI BELOW:
She says the statement makes a mockery of the call to build a capable, effective and efficient development state.
“There is no way in which you can achieve such a state with public servants who are hungry and can’t afford even a meal, nor to feed their families. Such unhappy, overworked, demoralised workers will never be in a position deliver the quality service which the President of the country always speaks about," adds Cembi.
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The increase was confirmed by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday. Mboweni said government has projected a R5 billion tax increase for the year 2021/2022. This will be followed by an increase of R10 billion in 2022/23, R10 billion in 2023/24 and R15 billion in 2024/25.
Cembi believes public servants are going to be trapped in a vicious cycle of debt and vulnerable to loan sharks to make ends meet.
"Public servants are being pushed into a group of those who work but remain poor and will, in fact, be paupers. Thanks to the Minister and the entire arrogant and unaccountable liberal treasury.
This budget will further discourage learners from pursuing education as a profession.
This statement de-professionalise the profession and the entire public service. There is no incentive to study hard and to serve your country with pride,"
She says the union does not support Mboweni's call to forge a new consensus for compensation of civil servants.
"For the Minister to raise the fact that compensation for public sector employees over the past five years grew by 7.2 % a year on overage, well above inflation, gives one the impression that public sector employees therefore do not deserve increases,"
