Unemployed South African men hold self-made advertising board offering their services at a traffic intersection in Cape Town. Labour organisations are sounding alarms about the far-reaching consequences of public sector job cuts Picture: Nic Bothma/EPA
PUBLIC sector unions across South Africa have spoken out in vehement opposition to the government’s controversial plan to cut over 67 000 public sector jobs.
As widespread criticism mounts, labour organisations are sounding alarms about the far-reaching consequences of these cuts, which not only threaten the livelihoods of vulnerable workers but also jeopardise the critical public services upon which millions depend.
With fears of exacerbating existing socio-economic challenges, unions warned that these drastic measures represented a misguided strategy that could plunge the nation further into crisis.
The decision to terminate contracts for nearly 67 000 workers, which includes over 31 000 aged 55 to 59 and almost 36 000 aged 60 and above, is reminiscent of a suggestion in 2019 by Colin Coleman, former chief executive of Goldman Sachs for Sub Saharan Africa, that South Africa should reduce the public sector workforce by 100 000 positions to reallocate funds toward infrastructure development.
The Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) fiercely opposed Colin Coleman’s suggestion to slash public sector jobs, describing it as a regressive and damaging move that undermined the nation’s developmental goals. The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) also strongly opposed Coleman’s suggestion, arguing it would worsen service delivery and overburden an already strained workforce.
It is important to note that, as of now, there is no evidence that the South African government and public sector unions have implemented Coleman’s proposal.
Community-based positions across all nine provinces are particularly at risk, facing an alarming fate exacerbated by budget cuts enforced by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).
Critics from various unions and civic organisations have condemned the plan for its lack of transparency and inadequate consultation with affected workers, arguing that it prioritises financial efficiency over the wellbeing of citizens.
In its defence, the government said that these cuts were necessary to stabilise the national budget and promote investor confidence. However, critics adamantly warn of severe economic ramifications.
The looming loss of such a vast number of jobs threatens to exacerbate the country’s already alarmingly high unemployment rates, potentially leading to increased poverty, social unrest, and a decline in consumer spending—all critical factors that could further stall the economy’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
As various sectors brace for the impacts of this policy, immediate concerns arise regarding how such a substantial workforce reduction will affect the provision of essential services. Local health clinics, educational institutions, and community support services, which already operate under immense strain, could find it increasingly difficult to meet the demands of the public they serve.
“Degradation of key services will spark a rapid reduction of quality and performance, fuelling moral degeneration, crime, poverty, and social ills,” Fedusa said. “We cannot create real solutions by ignoring the vital role that public service and its workforce play in our society.”
The implications of these job cuts extend well beyond immediate financial considerations. Cosatu, launched a fierce critique of the government’s proposal, describing it as a misguided strategy that threatens to exacerbate already dire issues of service delivery nationwide.
“Cutting the public sector wage bill is not the silver bullet it is touted to be,” Cosatu asserted in response to questions from the Sunday Independent. “In fact, Cosatu believes the government should employ more public servants to fill the critical vacancies that have remained frozen for far too long.”
Moreover, the unions have consistently pointed out the flawed perception surrounding the idea that the public sector is bloated. “In 1994, we had 1 million public servants servicing 34 million South Africans. Today, we have 1.2 million public servants servicing a population that has nearly doubled at 62 million,” Cosatu noted, adding, “It’s no wonder the state is unable to deliver adequate services.”
Amid this backdrop, the government has outlined plans to offer early retirement packages to 30 000 civil servants at an estimated cost of R11 billion over two years. This initiative is purportedly aimed at reducing the wage bill while allowing older employees to exit without financial penalties.
Nevertheless, unions express profound concerns about the impact on essential services and the lack of adequate protections for workers. “Cosatu has cautioned against this move as it will result in the loss of the critical skills base built over many years,” the trade union said.
Drawing from historical precedent, it highlighted how a previous government initiative during President Nelson Mandela’s term led to deep regrets after the critical loss of skilled personnel.
As the government navigates these austerity measures, the unions emphasise the necessity of engaging in an open dialogue with representatives from the labour sector. “The government must abandon its austerity measures, arguing that cuts will only deepen the economic crisis,” Cosatu said, urging decision-makers to incorporate strategic investments aimed at bolstering public service performance.
Such investments could include increasing financial support for critical institutions, modernising resources such as Eskom, and filling vacancies within law enforcement. “Focusing solely on reducing the wage bill without addressing the core issues of underfunding and understaffing is a recipe for disaster,” it warned.
Fedusa mirrored these sentiments, with its calls for a reevaluation of the government’s priorities gaining momentum. “Job reductions and layoffs can be avoided when infrastructure ambitions are realised to unlock further economic development,” Fedusa said in response to question from the Sunday Independent.
Their insistence on enhanced infrastructure investment comes at a pivotal moment when the country faces escalating socio-economic challenges marked by heightened unemployment and service delivery failures.
Fedusa firmly believes that effectively supporting the public service can catalyse socio-economic growth and serve as a remedy for the systemic issues threatening the stability of communities across the country. “Public servants are the key actors in the system, translating policy into action and ensuring that every citizen has access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and security,” the union said.
By reinforcing public services instead of eroding them, Fedusa argues, the government can address the disparities that plague the nation and empower marginalised communities. The union pointed out that collective action among its members was critical to address fiscal challenges while emphasising the need for open dialogue between government and unions to jointly find solutions.
Moreover, as part of its comprehensive strategy, Fedusa advocates for a thorough audit of the public service to identify inefficiencies such as ghost workers and corruption. “Corruption and the continued inaction towards consequence management remain impediments that can unlock finances and set the tone for effective governance,” the union said, highlighting that tackling these issues could redirect resources to fill critical vacancies that had long been left unoccupied.
To further illustrate the current crisis, the SA Policing Union (Sapu) pointed out that the SA Police Service (SAPS) does not meet the UN-recommended police-to-population ratio, posing direct threats to community safety. The union said the government should instead focus on increasing the budget for safety and security to improve departmental capacity and provide the necessary physical resources to law enforcement agencies.
Reflecting on engagement with government officials, Fedusa stressed the importance of addressing the proposal through formal platforms such as the Public Sector Coordination Bargaining Council (PSCBC), rather than allowing it to play out in the media. “The proposal requires honesty and fact-checking, without using public servants as scapegoats each time,” the union said.
In an environment fraught with tension, it is clear that the message from unions is unequivocal: the government must prioritise the workforce that underpins the fabric of society. “The realities of already poor working conditions and the exacerbation of pressures to perform in the absence of proper resources cannot be ignored,” Fedusa reiterated.
While the government’s efforts to address fiscal challenges may stem from good intentions, the approach of cutting jobs threatens to unravel the very foundations of public service delivery in South Africa. The voices of Cosatu, Fedusa, Sapu, and others urge immediate reevaluation of policies that prioritise austerity over human welfare.
As Colin Coleman’s controversial proposal in 2019 looms large, the government stands at a crossroads, whereby critical decisions made today will inevitably shape the future well-being of the country’s most vulnerable populations.
A sustainable path forward requires a commitment to uplifting public services and fostering economic resilience through strategic investments and an unwavering focus on social equity. The stakes could not be higher, as the consequences of these decisions will impact generations to come.
sizwe.dlamini@inl.co.za