MK Party approaches Progressive Caucus parties to hold joint national shutdown against VAT hike

JOHANNESBURG - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has approached parties in the Progressive Caucus to hold a joint national shutdown against the increase in value-added tax (VAT).

The party announced on Friday that it’s planning a nationwide protest to demonstrate against government’s 0.5% VAT hike.

Earlier this week, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced gradual increases to VAT, which will see it being 16% next year.

The progressive caucus is a formation of like-minded opposition parties in Parliament, which includes the uMkhonto wSizwe (MK) Party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the African Transformation Movement (ATM), and smaller organisations.

The MK Party is trying to convince these political parties to prepare for what it described as a mass resistance against the government's decision to increase VAT.

However, tensions have arisen between the MK and EFF, especially since Floyd Shivambu left the red berets to join former President Jacob Zuma's party last year.

But MK Party chief whip, Mzwanele Manyi, emphasised the need for collective action against the VAT hike.

"We want nothing to do with VAT because we are arguing that VAT on its own has got inherent inflationary pressures that it brings to bear."

The MK Party said it would also talk to civil society organisations to join its national shutdown on VAT.