MK, EFF lay into GNU's budget process

CAPE TOWN - Political parties continued clashes over the budget and used Tuesday’s ordinary sitting to slam the now-abandoned value-added tax (VAT) increase.

Some called the failed plan to raise VAT by 1% over two years as a "moment of armageddon" for the seventh administration and Government of National Unity (GNU), which is also at loggerheads over the budget and other government policies.

READ: Some economists believe Godongwana has little room for error with third attempt at budget

The abandoned VAT increase dominated Tuesday afternoon’s plenary, where members of the National Assembly made submissions on a variety of topical issues.

With what’s been dubbed as budget 3.0 expected later in May, most took the time to slam the budget process.

MK Party MP Des van Rooyen said: "We move that this House must note the moment of armageddon is looming over the seventh administration budget process. The failure to present the 2025 budget is the failure of the idea of the so-called GNU."

The Economic Freedom Fighters’ Molebogeng Letlape said that the recent High Court ruling setting the VAT increase aside was a victory for the rule of law.

"This ruling confirms what the EFF has always maintained. The executive cannot bypass Parliament and ignore public participation and impose anti-poor tax policies without accountability."

The African National Congress’s Charles Sekoati accused the DA and EFF of playing politics and relying on the courts to fight their battles.