Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget speech comes as local manufacturers buckle under pressure, including a tougher tariff regime which has impacted on exports.
Some labour unions are demanding targeted industrial support for vulnerable sectors such as clothing, textiles and footwear when budget 2026 goes live om Tuesday.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget speech comes as local manufacturers buckle under pressure, including a tougher tariff regime which has impacted on exports.
Labour unions said the factory closures, retrenchments, and declining productive capacity across manufacturing, steel, mining value chains cannot be ignored.
Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) agree that without rebuilding the domestic industry, revenue will remain constrained and unemployment entrenched.
COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks said, “The budget must be anchored upon tackling our dangerously high unemployment rate of 41.1% and weak 1.4% economic growth, entrenched levels of poverty and inequality, endemic crime and corruption.”
FEDUS said industrial policy must defend existing jobs while building new capacity in beneficiation and green manufacturing.
SAFTU said a job-creating budget is the only sustainable fiscal strategy.
The federation wants large-scale public investment in infrastructure and energy security, industrial rebuilding and localisation and expanded
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver the 2026 National Budget Speech on Wednesday, with government expected to outline fiscal plans aimed at supporting economic recovery and development.
The budget is expected to detail how these programmes will be financed amid ongoing economic pressures.
Economic reforms are likely to feature prominently in the fiscal outlook, with the African National Congress (ANC) calling for increased focus on electricity, logistics and water infrastructure investment.
ANC Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance Joe Maswanganyi said the party supports reforms that can strengthen economic performance.
“The ANC is calling for key reforms in electricity, logistics, and water in the 2026 National Budget,” Maswanganyi said.
Meanwhile, Labour federation Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and its affiliates are expected to protest in Cape Town ahead of the speech, opposing proposed austerity measures, which they argue could affect workers and public services.
The 2026 Budget Speech will set government spending priorities for the coming financial year and provide guidance on fiscal policy, infrastructure investment and economic growth strategies.
Protests in Cape Town outside parliament ahead of the budget speech on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. Picture: Katlego Jiyane/EWN.
In addition to halting budget cuts, the collective is calling for job creation and significant tax relief for the working class.
Numerous civil society and working-class organisations have converged outside Parliament today ahead of the 2026 Budget Speech.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver this year’s budget at the Dome outside Parliament as South African households continue to navigate a relentlessly rising cost of living.
Just meters away from the venue, hundreds of protesters have gathered to ensure their voices are heard before the Minister takes the podium.
Close to one thousand protesters from various organisations have united under the banner “Cry of the Excluded.” Their primary demand is for the government to reverse its stance on austerity measures.
The demonstration includes members from COSATU, SACP, Equal Education, Housing Assembly and Unite for Change.
In addition to halting budget cuts, the collective is calling for job creation and significant tax relief for the working class.
Siyabulela Mama, spokesperson for Cry of the Excluded, emphasised that the current economic trajectory is unsustainable for the country’s most vulnerable citizens.
“We are here today to call for a universal basic income grant that is above the poverty line,” Mama said. “This budget needs to speak to that because, in South Africa, we face a crisis of unemployment.”
Mama added that the collective expects Minister Godongwana to abandon austerity policies, which they argue have left the poor struggling to meet their most basic needs.
A group of public service unions affiliated with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is expected to protest against the 9.8% increase in the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) during the National Day of Action on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
The organisations include the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA), the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU).
Speaking to VOC News, COSATU spokesperson Zanele Sabela outlined some of the concerns raised by the unions.
With the filming being from the eye, or snout, view of the animals, viewers of this ad are taken straight into the action.
Adverts for pet food generally have the same script: Pet plays outside, comes inside and stares hungrily at the owner, the owner gives them some food, the pet eats the food, done.
Until now, ad agencies haven’t really felt the need to change up this formula. But Petshop Science, in collaboration with Checkers Sixty60, has just made advertising history in the animal product industry by serving up something totally new.
Petshop Science is South Africa’s fastest-growing pet retailer in the country’s multi-billion-rand market, and its advertising team deserves a medal because they have created the world’s first TV commercial that was shot entirely by pets. Fitted with cameras, dogs, cats and even a parrot film their surroundings inside one of their stores.
The brand decided to hand over creative control to the audience that actually matters: Our pets. The result of this bold experiment was pure, unfiltered curiosity and instinct.
The production team mounted Insta 360 cameras to specially fitted harnesses and collars and then the animals were given free rein of a Petshop Science shop. We are then treated to method acting at its finest, such as darting down aisles, abrupt stops, lazy stretches and extensive sniffing of pet food, treats, toys and essentials.
With the filming being from the eye, or snout, view of the animals, viewers of this ad are taken straight into the action.
This innovative advert – which has a fun “shop it like it’s hot” soundtrack – is to get the word out about their partnership with Checkers Sixty60. Pet owners can now shop for their products in the Sixty60 app and get same-day delivery in scheduled 60-minute timeslots.
It might be a world first, but with such cute results, it’s probably just the first of many more to come. Advertisers, take note!
