ANC says it's willing to engage parties outside GNU to pass proposed national budget

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) said it was willing to engage parties outside of the Government of the National Unity (GNU) to pass the proposed national budget.

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Gondongwana tabled the budget proposals before Parliament, which include a one percentage point increase to value-added tax (VAT) over the next two financial years.

The VAT increase is the main issue of contention within the GNU, with the second-largest party in the coalition, the Democratic Alliance (DA), saying it won’t support it in its current form.

Speaking at a media briefing at the ANC's Luthuli House in Johannesburg on Thursday, the party's secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, said that discussions within and outside the GNU were ongoing.

"The budget will be passed working with everybody in government and the ANC is prepared to talk and engage with all political parties within the GNU and beyond. We have always been and always be open to talking to everybody but talking to everybody does not mean we are submissive."