Meeting with ANC shouldn’t be mistaken as futile exercise in seeking budget alternative - EFF

JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said its meeting with the African National Congress (ANC) shouldn’t be mistaken as a fruitless exercise in seeking alternatives to the impending value-added tax (VAT) hike.

Its statement is a snub at parties like ActionSA, which insists the 0.5 percentage point VAT increase can be reversed within 30 days.

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A delegation from the red berets, led by its president, Julius Malema, met with the ANC’s Government of National Unity (GNU) negotiators on Friday in a bid to resolve the current budget impasse.

The EFF – which didn’t support the passing of the fiscal framework – said current talks are part of the road towards the rest of the budget process, which will include adoption of the division of revenue and appropriations bills.

For the first time since South Africa has been thrust into coalition discussions at national level, Malema has gone to the negotiating table.

Members of Malema’s party have previously blamed Floyd Shivambu for failed talks.

Shivambu, the then-EFF deputy president who led the red berets’ delegation following the May 2024 elections, has since left the organisation.

The EFF is clear that its participation in the ANC’s attempt to reset the GNU is not aimed at helping to find an alternative to the current budget.

It said this view is simply not practical, realistic, or legislatively permissible.

The EFF’s criticism of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front (FF) Plus has remained consistent, accusing the two of creating the current chaos and confusion in government.

It continues to label the pair as racist, lambasting them for wanting to continue operating in a Cabinet using a budget they did not support.
 
The reds once again said they will only join the GNU if the DA and FF Plus are left out.