ANC officials to continue budget talks ahead of parliamentary vote
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula during a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on 13 March 2025. Picture: Spamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - ANC officials are scheduled to meet this evening to continue discussing the ongoing budget talks.
The party’s engaged in time crunch meetings with different political parties ahead of Wednesday’s 2025 budget vote in parliament.
Today it met with the DA and Freedom Front Plus and is likely to continue with consultations until the last minute.
READ: ANC, DA understood to be close to reaching deal over contentious SA budget
A finance committee meeting will be held on Tuesday which might be seen as an indication of how the fiscal framework vote will fare.
Some of the smaller parties in the government of national unity and in parliament are mulling over supporting the ANC’s budget.
Those who’ve spoken to EWN want some concessions in order to back finance minister Enoch Gondgwana’s budget.
This could include deferring the 0.5 percentage point VAT hike to a later date.
Some of the smaller players are determined to level the playing field – making it difficult for the DA to continue with its wishlist to the ANC.
Meanwhile, DA insiders have told EWN that theirs aren’t unreasonable demands, instead arguing its list is made up of reforms that will spark growth of the country’s economy.
The ANC, DA and several other parties are expected continue with talks until Wednesday’s sitting.