Tabling of national budget called off
The tabling of the national budget has been called off until next month – over disagreement within the government of national unity on its contents.
FILE: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG -The tabling of the national budget has been called off until next month – over disagreement within the Government of National Unity (GNU) on its contents.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was due to deliver the budget at 2pm.
It’s believed a proposal to hike value-added tax by two percentage points has scuppered today’s tabling of the money bills.
National assembly speaker Thoko Didiza made the announcement after a twenty-minute delay in proceedings.
“We have decided to adjourn proceedings for a date to be determined by the programming committee. this is in accordance with rule 10,” she said.
While it was expected there would be tough trade-offs for a first budget under a government of national unity - calling off its presentation at the eleventh hour was a unexpected.
Speaker Thoko Didiza said following consultations with Deputy President Paul Mashatile and party whips, it was decided to postpone the budget delivery until consensus is reached.
“There has not been agreement in terms of parties in the executive to find one another in proposals in the budget.”
Political parties are however outraged – saying the GNU is a disgrace and the sticking points should have been ironed out before.