Political parties divided as Godongwana delivers no-tax-increase budget

Most political parties have welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s budget, which notably presented no new tax increases for the fiscal year.

While sin taxes and the general fuel levy have seen slight increases, several members of Parliament view the budget as a positive step forward.

During the tabling of the budget, Godongwana highlighted higher-than-expected collections in net VAT, corporate income tax, and dividends tax.

The budget has drawn a spectrum of responses from across the floor, ranging from cautious optimism to outright rejection.

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Rise Mzansi: MP Songezo Zibi welcomed the speech but emphasised the need for a strategic shift in spending to bolster key sectors.

uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party: Representative Kwenzokuhle Madlala dismissed the announcement, labelling the measures as "cosmetic."

"We spend about R440 billion on social grants, R430 billion on paying down debt. We need to change that so that we can invest more in health, in education, and invest more in infrastructure," said Zibi.

"We are not excited about this kind of budget. It doesn’t change anything in the bigger scheme of things. What it does are just cosmetic reforms that do not have an impact on the daily lives of our people on the ground," said Madlala.