SACP calls on government to boost country’s manufacturing sector

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has called on government to invest in the country’s manufacturing capacity as a primary tool to create jobs.

In his State of the Nation Address in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the extension of the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant until the end of March next year.

But the SACP says although it supports the extension of the social relief grant, this should not substitute for the development of the productive forces in the economy which is meant to create jobs.

South Africa has an estimated population of 15 million people with little or no income. Currently around 27, 8 million people are benefiting from government social grants with at least 10 million of them receiving the 350 rand Social Relief of Distress grant.

And although SACP welcomes the extension of the Social Relief of Distress grant and sees it as the first step towards a universal income, its General Secretary, Blade Nzimande says government can use its reserves to create jobs and reduce the dependency of the unemployed on government.

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