Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
25 February 2023 | 16:53 CAT

Budget Justice Coalition Photo: SECTION27

Finance Enoch Gondongwana delivered his Budget Speech on Wednesday afternoon, and as we see every year, it is a bit of good and bad. There is good news, but a large budget cut will assist embattled Eskom, while the Post Office will also receive a bailout.

Speaking to Radio Islam International on a few budget matters, the Budget Justice Coalition, Dalli Weyers, said there aren’t many positive elements to the budget, the potential tax for households and installing solar panels.

“We hope that will result in less strain on the National power grid which will free up electricity for other services and ensure that we are not confronted with load shedding we currently see,” he says.

The BJC is concerned about the current energy crisis and welcomes the promise to tackle load shedding permanently. However, it cautions that the allocation of funds and reduced spending to address the R400bn Eskom debt must not be implemented to the detriment of other rights found within the Constitution.

According to the BJC, President Ramaphosa alluded to using the essential income support mechanism for Sona’s most vulnerable. Over a quarter of the population (including around 9 million working-age adults and more than 7 million children) live below the food poverty line of R663 a month. This limits the ability of adults to engage in the economy meaningfully and limits the development of children, compromising the future economy.

The Child Support Grant (R480 per month) and the SRD (R350 per month) are substantially below the food poverty line.

The BJC looks forward to seeing decisive steps in increasing support above the poverty line and transparent implementation of the Universal Basic Income Guarantee.

Listen to the interview with Moulana Junaid Kharsany on Radio Islam’s podcast.