JOHANNESBURG - As National Treasury takes drastic steps to reduce public spending, the South African Communist Party is calling on government to reconsider that move.
It says this will put more pressure on already struggling South Africans.
READ: Austerity measures | SACP calls for urgent Tripartite Alliance meeting
The SACP's general secretary, Solly Mapaila, made these revelations as the party's Central Committee Plenary concluded a three-day gathering in Johannesburg.
He said, "what we are opposed to and both denounce and reject is austerity, amongst others, austerity involves cutting government service delivery and development expenditure, including redistributing programmes and withdrawing from advancing any real economic stimulus."
"This is done to enforce preordained fiscal ratios deemed by the neo-liberal playbook to be universally applicable, no matter under all circumstances, for instance, in its letter dated 31 August 2023, the national treasury says national departments, public entities and provinces must stop all new personnel recruitment and infrastructure development immediately, we reject this with the contempt it deserves."
"The latter expects full implementation of other austerity measures by 31 March 2024, this is a don't care attitude towards the plight of our people."
"As we speak, there are terminally ill patients on long waiting lists because shortages of medical doctors, specialists and other healthcare professionals, facilities and equipment in many our public clinic and hospitals. Other patients may even die before their appointment dates."