Cosatu wants Sona to address government’s commitments

These include creating decent work and sustainable livelihoods for all, and also improving the education and health systems.

Cosatu national spokesperson Sizwe Pamla said Sona came at a time when the country’s economy was on its knees and the nation was crying for bold and decisive leadership. Pamla said workers have been ravaged by retrenchments and shrinking wages and the poor are struggling with rising food, energy and transport prices.

“Crime and corruption are destroying both the public and private sectors,” Pamla added.

“We expect the president to outline strategies and plans to defeat this destructive scourge that is eating the fabric of our nation.

“We expect to hear how government is going to allow the majority of South Africans to participate in the economy through land reform.”

With the nation experiencing the worst drought in years, Cosatu also wants to know what government plans to do to ensure steady food production and food security.

Regarding unemployment, Cosatu expects job creation and employment protection to be at the heart of everything that all spheres of government do. “Our unemployment rate remains stubbornly high, above 34 percent, and the ongoing retrenchments mean that we are likely to see this figure increase in the coming quarter,” said Pamla.

Cosatu stated that the economy was not absorbing any new entrants into the labour market and government had completely missed all its job creation targets.

“Something drastic needs to be done to change the status quo and we expect Sona to articulate that,” continued Pamla.

“Every political office bearer and every government department should be given job creation targets to diffuse this ticking time bomb and avoid the looming social instability.”