MK Party distances itself from Parliament's adoption of 2025 budget framework

JOHANNESBURG - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party says it cannot be blamed for the passing of the national budget after 10 of its members of Parliament were not present for the vote.

The budget, which includes a value-added tax (VAT) increase, was narrowly passed in Parliament by 12 votes, meaning even if the MK Party was in full complement, it would have made no difference.

The party held a media briefing in Sandton on Friday to communicate outcomes from the meeting of its national high command last week.

For Wednesday’s budget vote, the MK Party’s parliamentary caucus had two abstentions and eight vacant seats it is yet to fill.

READ: National Assembly adopts 2025 budget framework

It can only fill the vacant seats in June after reaching the maximum amount of times a party can change its parliamentary list within a year.

MK Party secretary general Floyd Shivambu says the party wants to challenge this rule.

“There was no negligence on our part when it came to voting on the VAT dynamic and fiscal framework and proposals. We went full force, we opposed the proposals in the committee, the ANc tried to speak to public representatives in Parliament, they even tried to reach out to the leadership, and we told them that we would never agree to a fiscal framework that seeks to increase VAT.”

Shivambu says the official opposition party will challenge the VAT increase through a series of protests across the country.