DA, EFF's urgent bid to halt VAT hike to be heard in court on Tuesday

JOHANNESBURG - The Western Cape High Court is expected to hear an urgent application from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) next week, seeking to interdict the pending VAT increase.

The parties filed the application earlier in April, challenging the legality of the VAT hike announced in March, as part of the revised fiscal framework.

They are calling on the court to set aside the decisions by the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to adopt a committee report supporting the fiscal changes.

DA spokesperson Dominique Jeftha said the party was also asking the court to declare both the VAT Act and the proposed increase unconstitutional.

"The Democratic Alliance's urgent court application to interdict the pending VAT increase will be heard in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday, the 22nd of April 2025. The DA's delegation of leadership will attend proceedings."

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has responded, saying the application comes too late to alter the planned 0.5 percentage point VAT increase.