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Demand an end to government’s austerity measures – Austerity is a political choice! ✊🏾

Budget cuts and austerity measures are arguably the biggest barriers to quality education, healthcare, public sector jobs, social protection, housing and free basic services. The anti-austerity forum is a collective of over a dozen organisations, social movements and trade unions that are coming together to form a united force against conservative economic policies that are crippling communities. In October 2024, the anti-austerity forum brought together different trade unions and social movements under one umbrella for the first time in recent memory to protest during the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement. In 2025, we are building on this momentum as we continue to raise awareness and fight against the devastating impact of budget cuts on our communities.

February 2025 is the first time that the Government of National Unity will need to table the national budget. We know that it will be business as usual and debt repayments and a primary budget surplus will be prioritised over meeting poverty reduction targets. We have invited the Minister and Deputy Minister of Finance to a People’s Budget Assembly at St George’s Cathedral to accept tens of thousands of petitions calling for an end to the government’s austerity measures.

Goals and Objectives

People’s Budget Assembly: Draft Programme 

Ways for the public to get involved

Help advertise the People’s Budget Assembly and Budget Day demonstration on social media.
Join the People’s Assembly and demonstrations on the 18th and 19th.
Organise local pickets in your community at clinics, schools, and government departments.
Form an action committee in your neighbourhood to advocate against austerity.
Write an op-ed to your local newspapers on the impact of budget cuts in your sector/community.
Call in, send a voicenote or message to your local radio station to raise awareness about the impact of austerity.
Join the anti-austerity forum by messaging 082 695 5659 with your name and organisation.

About us – Anti-Austerity Forum

We are a growing collective of trade unions, social movements and NGOs. Some of the initial groups include: COSATU, SAFTU, NEHAWU, Back to Work Campaign, Cry of the Xcluded, Assembly of the Unemployed, Rural Women’s Assembly, Africa Unite, Alternative Information and Development Centre, SACP, Equal Education, Gugulethu Women’s Circle, Ubuntu Queer Collective, Usindiso Community Development, Housing Assembly and the People’s Health Movement.

Contact Details

Busi Mtabane: 083 329 7844 or busi@aidc.org.za

The post Demand an end to government’s austerity measures – Austerity is a political choice! ✊🏾 appeared first on AIDC | Alternative Information & Development Centre.

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