Tau calls on parties to set aside political desires during negotiations on proposed budget

JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) member Parks Tau has called on political parties to demonstrate decency by setting aside their own political desires during negotiations on the proposed budget.  

The ANC has been engaging with parties both within and outside the Government of National Unity (GNU), working to persuade them to support Godongwana's proposed budget in Parliament.  

ALSO READ: ANC won’t compromise on legislation for GNU partners to support Godongwana budget

It has, however, emerged that the Democratic Alliance (DA) agreed to support the budget despite the proposed 0.5% value-added tax (VAT) increase on the condition that the ANC scraps the controversial Expropriation Act.  

Discussions surrounding the budget have featured prominently at the ANC's NEC meeting, held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg this weekend.  

Tau said it is disingenuous for partners in the GNU to make personal demands during discussions on the proposed budget instead of working together to find common ground.  

“It is very disingenuous when political parties agree to the 0.5% VAT increase and then make political demands, not budget demands. It’s a big risk, and I think it's important that we are conscious of that. Sometimes, people claim to have taken principled decisions when, in fact, they are trying to extract political concessions. I think it's an unfortunate thing.”  

While Tau acknowledges the existence of personal desires of the parties in the GNU, he said that, in this case, GNU partners should avoid acting selfishly.  

“It’s important that members of Cabinet stick to the oath that we all took so that when we serve in Cabinet, we serve on the basis of the oath that we took. We don’t start by going to look for a party position before assuming our responsibility.”  

The ANC will continue its NEC meeting on Sunday, with discussions on the proposed budget expected to continue.