EFF MPs used Wednesday’s Parliamentary sitting on the Budget to demand justice for the 7-year-old Bergview College pupil who was raped while waiting for her school transport in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.
Image: ARMAND HOUGH Independent Newspapers
THE Government of National (GNU) could be headed for a major shake-up after the DA warned that it would walk out of the coalition government when the ANC, with the help of other parties, passes the Budget which contains a 1% VAT hike.
The ANC, after teaming up with smaller parties within and outside the GNU, garnered enough support to have the Budget adopted on Wednesday. ActionSA emerged as the kingmakers with their support for the passing of the fiscal framework report, which is a key step in approving the 2025 Budget.
This has thrust the GNU into disarray after the ANC and the DA were deadlocked in disagreement over the passing of the Budget.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said his party would be filing a court application today challenging Wednesday’s decision.
“It is unthinkable that ActionSA has handed this VAT hike to the ANC on a platter, and it is both unlawful and unconstitutional how Parliament processed the Budget. ActionSA and the ANC were joined in passing this VAT Budget by the IFP, PA, GOOD, RiseMzansi, UDM, PAC, Al Jama-ah and BOSA who collectively have chosen to make life more expensive for South Africans. The DA has vehemently opposed the Finance Minister’s Budget proposal, and we have negotiated for amendments that would have ensured economic growth and job-creation, because that is what South Africa needs,” he said.
Steenhuisen said the ANC remained out of touch with the people, and if they bought their own groceries or filled their own tanks, they would know how expensive life already is.
The party is expected to meet today to decide on its future in the GNU. During the debate on the budget, DA Finance spokesperson Mark Burke said his party was prepared to leave the GNU.
“We joined this GNU government to drive the growth and jobs agenda, not to enable the worst parts of the ANC. For that, it has to turn to ActionSA. If we’re forced to exit this government for driving a growth and jobs agenda, then so be it… As the DA, we will remain on our course of growth and jobs and vote firmly against this farce of a report. We reject it and we’ll see you on the battlefield. It’s not worth the paper it is printed on,” he said.
In a leaked audio before Wednesday’s proceedings, President Cyril Ramaphosa can be heard telling his party members that the DA had placed itself in an uncomfortable position and that it was now up to the party to find its way out.
He said the DA had added insult to the ANC because it wanted to be a partner in the GNU and an opposition at the same time. His sentiments were echoed by Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie who accused the DA of using the poor to score cheap political points.
In her debate, Good Party leader Patricia de Lille said: “Now is not the time for party posturing and politicking, but for courageous national decision-making on identifying and meeting South Africa’s priorities. Political parties must work together to put the needs of the country first. The economic growth forecasts remain dire and insufficient to seriously dent poverty and unemployment, or narrow inequality. The way the nation collects and spends its money is a key lever to address these injustices.”
By backing the Budget, Build One South Africa (Bosa) was not offering unconditional support, said party leader Mmusi Maimane. He said while the ANC and DA continue their political manoeuvring, the financial markets recorded net losses.
“If there’s no real progress in the next 30 days, we won’t support the upcoming bills that give effect to the budget. Those being the Division of Revenue Bill, Appropriations Bill and the Tax Bill. Our conditions are for a reversal of the VAT increase, for a review of spending to find cuts to raise revenue, and the adoption of a Growth Charter. This is not a good budget. It is a budget that places an even greater tax burden on South Africans through VAT and indirect income tax hikes.”
Cape Times
