South Africans shaped VAT reversal: 'When people speak, we must listen' - Godongwana
The minister says he was also encouraged by the passion shown by South Africans who’ve been engaged with the developments leading up to the decision to reverse the 0.5% VAT increase.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the national budget for 2025 in the National Assembly on 12 March 2025. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament
CAPE TOWN - The value-added tax (VAT) reversal decision was shaped by South Africans and not just political debate.
This is according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
The minister says he was also encouraged by the passion shown by South Africans who’ve been engaged with the developments leading up to the decision to reverse the 0.5% VAT increase.
He addressed the media on Wednesday, where he shed light that he would table a revised budget on 21 May 2025.
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"Today [Wednesday], there’s clarity, VAT will remain at 15%. This decision was shaped not only by political debates but, importantly, by the voices of South Africans. When people speak, we must also listen."
He also admits that the discussions with other parties over the last few months were far from easy.
"Because of the nature of coalition politics, we couldn’t find consensus both in Cabinet, and in the Legislature. I’m not going to put blame on anybody, but that process on its own, because all of us are new in this thing was messy."