NATIONAL NEWS - Trade unions could put their political differences aside to fight a common enemy: Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, whom they call a lackey of capitalists after he vowed to reduce the public service wage bill through retrenchments.
Mboweni said the country’s bloated civil service contributes to the high bill and retrenchment of public servants will be implemented.
He claimed R8 from every R10 spent by government goes to salaries in the public service. Out of 48 000 jobs, 30 000 would have to be curtailed.
He announced this on the eve of his medium-term budget statement, which he is due to deliver in parliament tomorrow.
The budget was set to be delivered by his predecessor, Nhlanhla Nene, who resigned following his testimony to the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture regarding his involvement with the Guptas.
Mboweni’s statement angered trade unions, with the South African Federation of Trade Union (Saftu) launching a scathing attack on him.
Saftu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said his organisation would be lobbying for the trade union movement to “stand together” against Mboweni’s plans.
Saftu has had strained relations with the ANC-supporting Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) but Vavi said there would be common ground among them to defend workers.
Cosatu did not comment at the time of going to press.
Vavi said Mboweni was playing to the gallery of the capitalist class, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and ratings agencies.
