Chris Gilili|Updated
With Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana set to deliver the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on October 21, COSATU and the minibus-taxi industry are calling for measures to ease pressure on workers, support public transport and address rising costs.
COSATU says unemployment, weak economic growth and soaring fuel prices are deepening financial hardship, while the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) wants public transport funding to better reflect passenger demand and the needs of minibus-taxi operators.
COSATU calls for relief from rising living costs
COSATU parliamentary co-ordinator Matthew Parks said workers were under siege, with unemployment rising to a dangerously high 43.8% and the economy continuing to limp along at anaemic 1.2% growth.
“Working-class communities are battered by poverty, inequality, crime and corruption. 2026 has been particularly painful due to the war in the Middle East which has sent oil prices soaring, hammering South Africa with over 25% petrol and 50% diesel price hikes. This has spiked inflation, triggered two repo rate hikes, and pushed workers deeper into poverty,” Parks said.
Parks said interventions COSATU wants the budget to consider include filling critical vacancies for doctors, nurses, teachers, police and other essential workers. He said the upcoming budget could not be business as usual or normalise the strain on workers.
“The government must signal a bold shift to stimulate growth, rebuild public and municipal services, provide relief to workers and the poor, and give hope to the nation. It is time to end tried and failed neo-liberal austerity policies that have crippled growth,” Parks said.
COSATU wants the National Treasury to consider several other interventions, including:
Fixing local government by removing corrupt and incompetent leaders, appointing skilled managers, ensuring timely payments to workers and service providers, and establishing sustainable funding.
Addressing R120 billion in municipal debt owed to Eskom and R370 billion owed to municipalities.
Strengthening crime-fighting by tackling corruption in law enforcement, recruiting police and justice personnel, and equipping SAPS with functional vehicles, modern communications and forensic capabilities.
Driving jobs and growth through a stimulus package, tackling delays in R1 trillion of infrastructure investments, and expanding financing for SMMEs, industry, exports and job-rich sectors.
Restoring Eskom, Transnet, PRASA, the Post Office, Postbank, SABC and Denel to full capacity through strategic support.
Easing pressure on workers by releasing R10 billion from the Central Energy Fund’s Equalisation Fund to reduce fuel prices and expanding public employment and private-sector artisanship programmes.
CODETA calls for fairer public transport funding
Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) chairperson Nceba Enge said taxi operators were seriously concerned about the current public transport funding model.
Enge said public funding had largely been invested in Integrated Public Transport Networks and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. However, the national funding model was now being reconsidered because the outcomes achieved had not matched the scale of investment.
“Public transport funding should follow passenger demand and recognised transport needs, rather than being determined primarily by transport mode. Future funding should support minibus-taxi infrastructure, fleet modernisation, technology, safety and professionalisation,” Enge said.
He said taxi operators continued to absorb rising fuel costs, vehicle finance, insurance, tyres, maintenance and labour costs while keeping fares affordable for working-class communities.
“We therefore seek a public transport framework based on proportionate enforcement, regulatory certainty and equitable funding, with the minibus-taxi industry recognised as an integral part of South Africa's public transport system.”