COSATU's Budget 3.0 wishes: 'Fix the State, grow economy and create jobs'

CAPE TOWN - Labour union federation Cosatu wants Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to present a progressive budget and a move away from austerity.

On Wednesday, Minister Godongwana will table his budget for the third time after the previous two attempts failed due to an unpopular proposed value-added tax (VAT) increase, which has since been removed.

Cosatu said it hopes he doesn't disappoint the working class and must table a budget that addresses their challenges.

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Parliamentary coordinator, Matthew Parks, said the country is battling several socio-economic crises and the government must take this into account.

"I feel that we must get the right approach. We should not return to austerity budget cuts that already crippled the public services. We should rather focus on fixing the State, grow the economy and create jobs," said Parks. 

But he also said that they are worried that the National Treasury might feel the need to cut spending elsewhere because of the abandoned VAT increase and revenue shortfall. 

"We are worried that Treasury might feel the need to cut, and we think the correct approach is not to cut but to invest in public services," said Parks.