Cry of the Xcluded & Assembly of the Unemployed | Statement | 29 July, 2021
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On Sunday evening South African President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his in-frequent dictats to the nation via the so-called “family meeting”. Among the announcements made was the reinstatement and expansion of the eligibility for the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) and a return to an adjusted level 3 lockdown. While these are both positive steps in moving the country forward following the initial cancelation of the SRD Grant, Sunday’s announcement was a missed opportunity to listen to the calls of the millions of unemployed and institute a Universal Basic Income Grant of R1500pm.
As we noted in a recent statement <aidc.org.za/unemployed-demand-big-south-africa/>, the country’s jobs bloodbath and massive rates of hunger that leave more than 10 million without food ( of which 3 million are children).This necessitates both the implementation of a dignified, Universal basic income grant and the increase of the child support grant to R 585. In February, we and other movements representing 1.5 million people rejected Tito Mboweni’s austerity budget, which cuts key and vital services in the aim of reducing the public sector wage bill. We argued then and continue to argue that the only way out of our country’s economic crisis is to push forward a massive public sector led economic renewal programme that centers the just transition and the country’s glaring crisis of social reproduction.
While the nay-sayers like to proclaim that such a programme is not possible, the latest economic research <www.groundup.org.za/article/yes-we-can-afford-a-universal-basic-income-guarantee/> from a range of civil society organisations <www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-05-25-universal-basic-income-an-idea-whose-time-has-come/> and economists <www.newframe.com/sa-could-eliminate-poverty-in-three-years/> continues to show that there is fiscal space for a Universal basic income grant and extended public services. The first step in doing so is to reject the notion that the private sector and wealthy individuals’ ill-gotten wealth should not be taxed. As the Cry and the AoU we have been consistent that the country must *Tax the Rich. *In addition measures must be taken to stop and punish public and private sector corruption that rob us of a dignified life.
We call on all in South Africa to advance the fight for a dignified Universal Basic Income Grant. President Ramaphosa the people want and need a Universal basic income grant now, your Treasury must now follow suit.
#EndAusterity
For More Details Contact:
For the Assembly of the Unemployed:
– Khokhoma Motsi – 0734907623 – Siyabulela Mama – 0659707079 – Vuyokazi Made – 0733257009 – Ntokozo Ncongwane – 0810162338 – Bridgette Nkomana – 0744840316 – Sikhumbuzo Tshezi Soxujwa- 078 718 5326 – Nonhle Mbuthuma – 0763592982
Endorsed By:
1. Makause Community Development Forum, 2. Keep Left/Socialism from Below, 3. South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), 4. General Industrial Workers Union of South Africa (GIWUSA), 5. Housing Assembly, 6. Primrose Backyards Dwellers Forum, 7. Southern African Green Revolutionary Council 8. Youth Unemployment Crisis Committee 9. Fighting Inequality Alliance – South Africa 10. Rural Women’s Assembly 11. Food & Allied Workers Union (FAWU) 12. Inyanda National Land Movement 13. Right2Know Campaign 14. Gauteng Housing Crisis Committee 15. SAMWU Back2Work Campaign 16. Abahlali Base Freedom Park 17. Commercial Stevedoring Agriculture Allied Workers Union 18. #PAYTHEGRANTS 19. Goldfields Community Forum 20. Amadiba Crisis Committee 21. Socialist Youth Movement 22. Taaibosch Kei Korana Royal House and Greater Eldorado Park Housing Task Team 23. Sisonke Revolutionary Movement 24. OCF 25. Dobsonville Community Chest 26. Unemployed People’s Movement 27. United Front 28. COWG 29. Ntinga Ntaba ka Ndoda 30. The South African Liberated Independent Public Sector Workers Union 31. Sofasonke Tenants Association 32. Unemployed Graduates Movement 33. Sekhukhune Environmental Justice Network 34. Amandla Collective 35. Botshabelo Unemployed Movement 36. Passion 4 People 37. Wayside Community Org 38. Black Sash 39. Abahlali baseMjondolo 40. Social Justice Coalition (SJC) 41. Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) 42. Life After Coal Campaign 43. groundWork
If you would still like to endorse the statement please contact Siyabulela Mama at 0659707079
