The Star reports that Cosatu has accused the government of being ineffective in handling South Africa's jobs and economic crisis, warning that the country is effectively in a recession.  

Pulling no punches, the labour federation's leaders said promises by the government of a second radical phase of economic transformation was “stillborn”, and it reiterated that the National Treasury and SA Reserve Bank were the “biggest obstacles” to growing an economy that benefited all.  The leaders were briefing reporters in Johannesburg following a three-day central executive committee meeting which discussed the economy at length.  While the federation believes that only by changing SA’s “neo-liberal” socio-economic policies will the country get out of its economic doldrums, it will push for a number of short-term interventions it believes will help during talks with the government and business.  These include a halt on wage increases for senior executives in both the public and private sectors, and a wealth tax for the super rich.

• Read this report by Amy Musgrave in full at The Star

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