DA vows to take a stand against ANC's 'tone-deaf' budget

The DA has taken a firm stance against the ANC budget, describing it as "anti-growth, anti-jobs, and anti-poor." 

The party's spokesperson on finance, Mark Burke, made the remarks during a recent address, where he emphasised the need for politicians to prioritise the needs of the people.

The two parties have been at loggerheads since the ANC through Action SA and Build One South African narrowly passed the budget that included a 0.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) increase in the National Assembly last month.

The DA has escalated matters to the Western Cape High Court to challenge the legality of the tax hike announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana during his 20254 budget speech.

The request is from the DA and supported by the EFF. The DA argues that the 0.5 percentage point VAT hike will have a negative impact on the economy.

SA citizens would have to wait a bit longer to know if they would be digging deep in their pockets come May 1 after the court reserved judgment on Tuesday following arguments.

According to Burke, the increase will further escalate the cost of living, disproportionately affecting the poor and vulnerable. 

Burke said the DA opposes the budget due to its debilitating and bulldozing nature, which will lead to further poverty and hopelessness among youth. 

"We oppose a debilitating and bulldozing budget that will lead to further poverty by taking money from people who can’t afford it and giving it to people who don’t know how to use it," Burke said.

The DA has proposed an alternative budget focused on infrastructure investment and no new bailouts.

Burke emphasised that such a budget would have the party's support, but the ANC's decision to steamroll a tone-deaf budget has led to the current impasse.

"A budget focused on infrastructure investment and no new bailouts had our support until the ANC decided to steamroll a tone-deaf budget against our advice and against our collaborative input made in good faith…the DA has assembled an exceptional legal team to challenge the budget in court,” Burke said.

He expressed hope for a favorable ruling, but emphasised that a court victory would only be a partial solution.

"While we pray for a favorable ruling in court, such victory will only get us so far," Burke said. 

"In the end, there is a need for politicians to pierce through privileged pipedream plans and outdated ideology."

Burke further quoted Bob Dylan, saying "The times are a-changing," and emphasised that the DA is committed to opposing the ANC's rapidly aging road that leads nowhere. 

He urged politicians to see the scale of the problem facing people and prioritise their needs.

"How many ears must one party have before they can hear people cry? How many times can you turn your head pretending that you just don’t see?" Burke emphasized the need for politicians to listen to the people.

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed that his party and other parties within and outside of the GNU  would be soon making a decision on the VAT matter.

“The discussion with GNU partners should be finalised in the next day or two…we have been engaging as of last week. Particularly the parties that voted with the during the passing of the budget.

“Other political parties have gone to court. As we conclude our discussions, we should be in a position between today and tomorrow, to have a joint press conference on the matters of the budget and the way forward about VAT," Mbalula said. 

mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za