Facilities for abused women and children bracing for devastating consequences if VAT hiked

CAPE TOWN - The National Shelter Movement says facilities for abused women and children are bracing for devastating consequences if VAT is hiked by two percentage points.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to deliver his Budget Speech on Wednesday after his address was postponed in February because of a political impasse around a proposed VAT increase.

The National Shelter Movement's Anisa Moosa said that at a time when the nation was grappling with relentless gender-based violence, such a hike was not just a financial issue but a matter of life and death.

"A possible 2% VAT increase could force already struggling shelters to cut services or even close their doors. At a time when GBVF is at an all-time high, this is not just about budgets, it's about the lives of our country's women and children. The reality is simple: a VAT increase will raise the cost of food, electricity and essential services, making it harder for shelters to help survivors."

Moosa said that shelters were already operating under severe financial strain.

"This could push us to the brink. As the National Shelter Movement of South Africa, we want to warn government and citizens that without urgent intervention, more survivors could be left with nowhere to turn. Our government can't continue to neglect the safety of women and children. For this, we need real, tangible support. This VAT increase is not the answer."