Cape Town, South Africa - October 30, 2024 The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) are leading a march to Parliament on Wednesday morning, ahead of the medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS). Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana is expected to table the budget in the National Assembly at 2pm. COSATU and civil society organisations want the minister to address the country’s high unemployment rate and to implement a basic income grant, among other demands. The protestors are also calling on government to do away with what they referred to as harsh economic policies, which they said were stifling growth and job creation. COSATU's Malvern de Bruyn said the minister must table a budget that speaks to the needs of poor and working-class South Africans. "What we've seen is a budget that doesn't speak to us but a budget that speaks to capital. So, as workers and poor communities, we are unhappy, we are angry, we are frustrated, and we want the minister of finance to give us a budget that at least can accommodate our needs." He said the government cannot be allowed to do as it pleases with the citizens' money.