SA Reserve Bank badly hurts families and suffocates the economy
26 May 2023
The decision by the South African Reserve Bank announced on Thursday, 25 May 2023, to hike interest rates by 50 basis points will badly hurt families by raising the cost of living and will immediately increase household debt for those who are repaying mortgage bonds, vehicle finance and other loans.
By raising the cost of capital, the SA Reserve Bank will continue to suffocate the already struggling and stagnant economy through suppressing productive capacity expansion in industry and agriculture.
The SACP reiterates its call for a change in monetary and other economic policies with the creation of sustainable, long-term employment, a fundamental target explicitly included in the mandate of and accountability by the SA Reserve Bank.
Radical reduction of poverty and inequality and building and raising the levels of national production to industrialise the economy towards employment creation must be fundamental targets as well.