The People Against Budget Cuts, a coalition of civil society organisations, trade unions, social movements and community groups, will gather on Roeland Street on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM to reject the VAT increase and demand an end to the austerity measures that have been negatively impacting our communities.
Austerity measures are typically introduced in response to economic crises, where governments make spending cuts and reduce public services to balance national budgets. In South Africa, these policies have led to job losses, reduced social spending, and wage freezes for public-sector workers. Meanwhile, essential services such as healthcare, education, and housing remain underfunded, leaving many communities struggling to meet their basic needs.
On Wednesday, we will emphasise how these austerity measures disproportionately affect the poor, the working class, and marginalised groups. We call on the government to reconsider its budget allocations and ensure that economic policies serve the people, not just the elite.
We have had enough. We urge our communities to rise up. We have collected over 100,000 petitions across six provinces demanding an end to austerity measures. It’s time to bring our voices to the table and demand the resources we need to thrive. The call for a people’s budget isn’t just about resisting austerity; it is about creating a future where all South Africans can live with dignity, access to quality public services, and economic opportunities
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