By Zizamele Cebekhulu-Makhaza, President of Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union
The cost of living in South Africa is skyrocketing, as according to Statistics SA, average annual inflation for 2022 reached as high as 6.9%, compared the 4.5% recorded in 2021. Alarmingly, this 2022 figure is the highest annual average rate seen since 2009 during the end of the global financial crisis.
Against this backdrop, it is hardly surprising that so many members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) have reported that they are struggling to make ends meet.
Then, further compounding the issue, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) granted permission in January for Eskom to implement a double-digit increase in electricity prices over the next two years, approving a 18.65% hike for 2023 and another 12.74% for 2024.
This outrageous increase will again have a severe impact on the cost of living for most South Africans, as electricity is a necessary expense for households and businesses. The rise in electricity prices will lead to higher costs for goods and services as businesses pass on their increased energy costs to consumers. This will only put additional strain on already cash-strapped individuals and families, pushing households to the financial brink.
It is for these reasons that government’s unilateral 3% wage increase for public service workers is simply unacceptable, especially considering that they have not received any increase for a number of years.
As the leader of POPCRU, which represents over 120 000 members, I can confidently say that this amount is not nearly adequate enough for our members. The 3% raise is simply not enough to offset rising costs, particularly for those on lower incomes, raising the risk of working poverty among our members and their families, forcing them to live in unacceptable conditions.
It’s important for the government and employers to consider this reality when determining wage increases and implementing policies to address the rising cost of living, as workers should not be forced to pay the price for government austerity. As a union and as members of the tripartite alliance, we will therefore continue to bolster our fight against this pocket-size increase in 2023.
Likewise, Nersa’s decision on electricity prices is insensitive and careless of the plight of workers, and will have a devastating impact on those struggling to survive in an economy that is still recovering from the effects of the pandemic and is marked by high inflation. The continuous above-inflation increases in electricity prices seen since 2006 are unjust, and only serve to harm consumers, businesses, and the economy by reducing wages, suffocating businesses, and hindering job creation.
It is for these reasons that government must implement a further increase in salaries for public servants. Our members cannot continue to cope financially if government does not intervene and improve the 3% salary wage hike.