In his 2022 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said the aim is to address the needs of South Africans and secure the country’s future stability and prosperity, but the lack of focus on education and tertiary institutions is a problem for SAPTU.
SAPTU (South African Parastatal and Tertiary Institutions Union) believes the most import and probably the most effective way to ensure our country’s future stability and prosperity is through investing in education.
“I didn’t see a lot of points regarding education and specifically tertiary institutions. And that is a concern for me. Our country’s future are in the hands of those we educate. How we educate and what we educate is vital. We need recourses to do the job needed for South Africa,” says Adv Ben van der Walt, Secretary General of SAPTU.
“We cannot – must not – underestimate the importance of technical colleges. We need to empower the education structures, school systems, teachers and lecturers to educate our future.”
Besides the education aspect Adv Van der Walt also took note of the Minister’s 3% offer to public service workers. The offer translates into an average of R1 000 per employee per month until March 2023 and a pensionable salary increase of 3% for public servants. According to the minister the offer on the table is in the best interest of the fiscus and public service workers.
“It’s too early to comment and say what the outcome of this will be. But we will give feedback as soon as possible to the public and our members.”
ABOUT SAPTU
SAPTU is a politically neutral union for any employee working in South Africa. The union was initially established to serve members in the parastatal and tertiary institutions fields in 1993, but now represent a wide range of members from the agricultural, hospitality, security and construction industries.
We are affiliated with FEDUSA. SAPTU and its members benefit from the collective knowledge of these affiliations, which contributes to greater participation and strength. Furthermore, SAPTU has the opportunity to influence legislation through FEDUSA and NEDLAC. This enables SAPTU to keep abreast of all new legislation and essential labour developments.
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