Ntshavheni says DA playing political games by rejecting budget
Minister in the Presidency Ntshavheni adamant Cabinet reached consensus when the budget was put before it last week.
Minister in The Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni briefing the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 13 March 2025. Picture credit: Elmond Jiyane/GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says the Democratic Alliance (DA) wants to hold government to ransom by not agreeing to the revised budget tabled by the finance minister on Wednesday.
She’s adamant Cabinet reached consensus when the budget was put before it last week.
Ntshaveni said the horse-trading the DA is now seeking to engage in is about the Expropriation Act, and not about a value-added tax (VAT) increase.
The budget tabled on Wednesday proposes a VAT hike of 0.5% in this financial year, and again, next year.
Cabinet spokesperson Ntshavheni said all five proposals made by political parties to National Treasury on 3 March, included an increase in VAT.
“All of us with no exception, we agreed on the options that were being tabled.”
However, on Wednesday only the United Democratic Movement (UDM), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Patriotic Alliance (PA) indicated they would back the budget.
Ntshavheni said the DA - the kingmaker in getting the budget over the line, is playing political games by rejecting it.
She said the party’s real opposition is to education and health legislation it does not want to accept.
“South Africans should not be fooled that when the DA says they are opposing a VAT increase. No, everyone had signed on to the VAT increase.”
She said with Cabinet having fulfilled its role to ensure a budget is tabled before the start of the next financial year, it will now be up to Parliament to deal with the differences.
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