Inflation in South Africa: Workers protest against rising cost of living, fuel prices – National
South African workers on Wednesday protested against the country’s soaring cost of living, including record highs fuel prices and increased costs for basic foods.
About 1,000 workers marched to Union Building, the seat of government in the capital, Pretoria, calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to rein in rising prices.
South Africa’s economy still reeling from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which an estimated 2 million jobs were lost, exacerbating 35% of the country unemployment ratio.
Inflationary catastrophe: Experts warn of caution as new survey shows 1 in 4 Canadians are in debt
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also hit the South African economy, with gas prices hitting record highs despite the government’s suspension of fuel tax hikes earlier this year.
With South Africa’s inflation currently at 7.4%, the rising cost of living has added to the blackouts as the state-owned power company Eskom is unable to produce enough electricity.
Eskom has applied for an increase in electricity prices even though it cannot provide uninterrupted power to industries and households.
Moalusi Tumane, a teacher in Palm Ridge, east of Johannesburg, said teachers have been hit hard by the rising cost of living.
“The economy is going down, especially for us poor teachers… I’m struggling to pay off debt because of interest rates… Gasoline (gasoline) goes up, food prices go up, even medical aid fees go up. Our economy is also growing.” Tumane. “That’s a problem because as a teacher, I can no longer afford to live the life I deserve.”
He called on the government to urgently raise wages for teachers, and unions have demanded a 10% raise.
Lydia Motswahole, who works for dairy company Clover, said she currently has no income as the company’s workers have been on strike since November. Strikers are asking the company to halt its cutting plan. reduce their wages by up to 20% and stop plans to lay off workers.
“I’m a single parent, so I’ve been hit hard, especially since we’ve been on strike for nine months with absolutely no income,” Motswahole said. “We are calling on the government to intervene in the rising prices of food and petrol. We can’t even afford the shipping.”
South Africa’s largest union, the Confederation of Trade Unions of South Africa and the Confederation of Trade Unions of South Africa are blaming the ruling party, the African National Congress, for the dire state of the country’s economy, which has already been in recession. before the COVID-19 pandemic.
© 2022 The Associated Press
