Press Release
For Immediate Release
28 February 2025
Free SA Demands Immediate Withdrawal of ‘procedurally unlawful, irrational, and invalid’ Minimum Wage Hike
“If the Minister fails to act, Free SA will take legal action to challenge the decision and hold the government accountable.” — Reuben Coetzer, Spokesperson for Free SA
Free SA has sent a formal letter (see attached) of demand to the Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the unlawful 4.2% National Minimum Wage (NMW) increase.
The organisation warns that the increase not only violates legal procedures but will also destroy thousands of jobs in an economy already crippled by mass unemployment.
The National Minimum Wage Act requires the Minister to publish proposed increases for public comment, table the decision before Parliament, and release the final NMW Commission report before implementing any change. Minister Meth has failed to do all three, making the wage hike both procedurally unlawful and economically reckless.
A Threat to Jobs and Economic Survival
According to the government’s own data, 280 000 jobs were lost in 2024 alone due to the minimum wage increase. The reality is that forcing businesses to pay wages they cannot afford does not help workers—it excludes them from the workforce entirely. Many businesses, especially in agriculture, domestic work, and small enterprises, cannot absorb these additional costs.
“Forcing an unaffordable wage onto struggling businesses means one thing—more job losses,” says Reuben Coetzer of Free SA. “Government cannot claim to care about the unemployed while actively pushing policies that make employment impossible. This wage hike is a political decision, not an economic one, and it will cost South Africans their livelihoods.”
An estimated 5.3 million people already work for less than the legal minimum wage, proving that state-imposed wage controls do not create prosperity—they create informality, exploitation, and economic stagnation.
Public Participation Ignored—Again
The NMW Commission’s own survey found that 67% of respondents opposed the increase, yet the Minister unilaterally imposed it without consultation. This is part of a growing trend of government decisions that sideline ordinary South Africans and shut them out of decisions that directly impact their lives.
“This is exactly why Free SA exists—to empower people to take back control over government decisions,” says Coetzer. “We cannot allow politicians to make reckless economic choices behind closed doors. Free SA is standing up for every worker, business owner, and unemployed South African who deserves a say in their own future.”
A Call to Action: Free SA Will Fight for Accountability
Free SA demands that Minister Meth:
- Withdraw the unlawful wage increase immediately and follow the correct legal process.
- Reopen public consultation and allow workers and businesses to voice their concerns.
- Table the decision before Parliament, as required by law.
- Release the final NMW Commission report, which should have been made public before the increase was implemented.
“If the Minister fails to act, Free SA will take legal action to challenge the decision and hold the government accountable,” Coetzer added.
Join Free SA—Fight for Your Voice to Be Heard
At Free SA, we believe in taking back control—over government decisions, your family’s future, the economy, and community solutions where the state has failed. If you are tired of policies that destroy jobs, ignore public input, and limit economic freedom, join us in demanding change.
Ends
Media enquiries:
Anneke Burns
Free SA Publicist
071 423 0079
media@freesa.org.za
About FREE SA:
At the Foundation for Rights of Expression and Equality (Free SA) we are committed to empowering South Africans to have their voices heard. In a true democracy, every opinion counts, and we ensure your voice resonates where it matters most: in Parliament, in public policy, and in the laws that shape our country. From advocating for democracy and equality to holding the government to account, we stand with you to demand transparent, responsive, and fair governance that serves its people.
To learn more, visit: https://www.freesa.org.za/