'No one party can impose their will on you,' says ActionSA's Mashaba
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said the era of ANC dominance was over and it could no longer make decisions on its own.
JOHANNESBURG - Some political parties say it's a good thing the era of African National Congress (ANC) dominance is over, as it can no longer implement tax hikes without consulting coalition partners.
This followed Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana's decision on Thursday to withdraw his proposed 0.5 percentage point value-added tax (VAT) hike.
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Some members of the Government of National Unity (GNU) believe the ANC would have unilaterally put South Africans under financial pressure had it still been the majority party.
Various parties held a joint media briefing in Sandton on Thursday in response to the reversal of the VAT increase.
On 19 February, the GNU postponed the Budget Speech after coalition partners complained that the ANC had failed to consult them regarding its proposal to increase VAT.
The parties objected to what they saw as an attempt by Godongwana to unilaterally push for a two-percentage-point VAT hike, despite the ANC no longer holding a majority.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba said the era of ANC dominance was over and it could no longer make decisions on its own.
"The reversal of the VAT increase is a victory that belongs to you, the people of South Africa, and to our maturing multi-party democracy. Let us celebrate that you denied any political party a majority and the power to determine budget unilaterally. Let us celebrate that because of this, no one party can impose their will on you, the people of our country."
Mashaba said that although his party stepped up to address the budget impasse, joining the GNU was not on its bucket list.