ANC, DA say they've finally found consensus on budget differences

JOHANNESBURG - The two biggest parties in the Government of National Unity (GNU), the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), say they have finally found consensus on their budget differences. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will present his third attempt at a national budget before Parliament, sitting at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. 

The previous budget led to an acrimonious division between the two coalition partners, with the DA voting against the budget and successfully challenging it in court. 

On the other side, the ANC enlisted parties outside the GNU to help it pass the budget once the DA indicated it would be voting against it. 

"It's been a positive engagement on the budget. We hope that what we will see on this budget is a focus on infrastructure investment and we will not be funding that through tax increases, be that in increases to Value Added Tax (VAT), direct increase in personal or corporate tax," said DA spokesperson on Finance, Mark Burke.

READ: Budget 3.0: Godongwana should prioritise economic growth, says economist

ANC parliamentary chief whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli, said budget consultations within the GNU had improved this time around.

"Our own understanding is that all parties in the GNU have agreed with the budget that is going to be presented, but you see in issues around budget there may be small variations here and there where somebody says after the budget is presented, ‘I agree but I prefer that he raises this money a bit or lower that money a bit’ but those are going to be minor issues which would not necessarily suggest there are disagreements which may result in the budget not being passed."