Equal Education supports tomorrow’s national strike, led by the SA Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), to demand that the government responds to the desperate needs of poor and working class communities!
The members of EE – learners, post-school youths and parents from marginalised communities – are living the social devastation caused by the rising cost of living and deepening inequality. Young people feel the brunt of the intersection of these issues, the hardest. As part of 63.3% of the country’s population, it is a serious necessity that young people are at the centre of all interventions and decision making.
Government has not recognised its role in creating this social crisis, through the looting of public funds by politicians (even during the pandemic), and through anti-poor budgeting. It has cut funding for health, housing, social development and education.
We must be governed by a politics that centres and responds to the needs of our people. Our Constitution has created powerful ways for the people of South Africa to hold government accountable and be at the heart of its decisions, but these have failed and people have been left feeling powerless. We must reclaim these structures and ensure that they work to improve society.
Equal Education’s offices will be closed tomorrow, and our staff may join protests in their provinces.
We must continue to be engaged in the struggle against inequality. We must continue to organise ourselves.
Amandla! Ngawethu Ngenkani! #NationalShutdown
[END]
* Issued by Equal Education’s National Council
