EWN reports that the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has threatened to mobilise workers for a nationwide strike if Parliament fails to reject the proposed increase in the value-added tax (VAT).  

Cosatu's Bheki Ntshalintshali said:  “We made our submission to Parliament on the budget on Wednesday.  If we do not get any results or positive response, we’ll mobilise our workers for a strike against the VAT increase.”  Former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba announced the first VAT hike since 1993 during his Budget speech in February, a move which has been widely slammed by opposition parties and labour organisations.  Meantime, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane said the party would soon march to the National Treasury against the increase in VAT and transport levies because they were regressive and anti-poor policies.  The SA Communist Party (SACP) has also rejected government’s announcement of an increase in VAT, warning it marked the possible beginnings of a regressive creep.

• Read this report by Clement Manyathela in full at EWN

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