ANC continuing talks with GNU partners, parties who backed budget framework
While the ANC has described engagements with political parties so far as cordial, much tougher talks can still be expected to be had with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus, who are only slated to meet the ANC's negotiating team towards the end of the week.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula during a media briefing. Picture: @MYANC/X
CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) is continuing its engagements with political parties as it looks to reset its relationship with Government of National Unity (GNU) partners, and those outside of it, who backed the budget framework in Parliament last week.
This includes ActionSA and Build One South Africa (BOSA), who met with the ANC on Wednesday.
The ANC said it was committed to inclusive dialogue and robust engagement amid the discord over the budgetary process which has strained relations within the GNU.
While the ANC has described engagements with political parties so far as cordial, much tougher talks can still be expected to be had with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus, who are only slated to meet the ANC's negotiating team towards the end of the week.
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First to be invited to the ANC's dialogue table has been ActionSA.
The parties say their discussion was limited to the demand to scrap the value-added tax (VAT) increase before it's due to come into effect in May and not about reconfiguring the GNU to include ActionSA.
The ANC said it had also met with Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) leader Mzwanele Nyhontso, BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane, Al Jama-ah leader Ganief Hendricks and Good Party secretary-general Brett Herron.
Wednesday's discussions, led by the ANC's Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, were aimed at seeking consensus on the fiscal framework which has divided the GNU.
Mbalula said these talks were dominated by the need to find alternative revenue sources to avoid an imminent tax hike.
"The ANC, in collaboration with other political formations, reaffirmed its commitment to an inclusive, multilateral approach that considers all perspectives and ensures no group is left behind," said Mbalula.
With the all-important money bills, which allocate money to the various spheres of government and national departments, still to be debated after the parliamentary recess, the ANC will want to make doubly sure on whose support they can rely on to pass the national budget without hiccups.
ActionSA and BOSA both gave the ANC their votes last week to pass the fiscal framework, while the main opposition parties, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), refused to accept a VAT increase.
Both the DA and EFF have launched applications in the Western Cape High Court challenging the parliamentary process to approve the fiscal framework and the accompanying VAT increase.