'We are not going to be fooled by the ANC'

CAPE TOWN - ActionSA said it would not allow itself to be played by the African National Congress (ANC) after lending the leading party its votes on Wednesday to get the first part of the national budget over the line.

Despite only having six seats in the National Assembly, the party banded together with other smaller parties to step in after the Government of National Unity (GNU) failed to give the budget framework blanket support.

On Thursday, parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, said that the party supported the fiscal framework to save frontline jobs and to capacitate the revenue service to collect more money.

But it remains emphatic that VAT must be scrapped.

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After rescuing the ANC on the fiscal framework on Wednesday, Trollip said it had contacted the ANC about a statement it issued post the vote which did not acknowledge recommendations to make changes to the adopted framework.

"Our support remains conditional on the strict fulfilment of the agreement to scrap VAT increase and income tax bracket creep through alternative proposals, several of which have been outlined."

Trollip said that the ball was now in the court of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to heed to ActionSA's demand before the VAT hike is meant to take effect in May.

"We are not going to be fooled by the ANC, and if the ANC fool us, that will be their choice, but they will be fooling South Africans, and that will be the end of ANC."

Trollip said that the coming days would be crucial for parties to continue engaging to find alternative revenue proposals before it gets down to the business of scrutinising the money bills.