ANC still in talks to settle VAT hike matter
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the party is
talking with all parties in and out of the Government of National Unity to
resolve VAT increase issue.
Mbalula held a briefing on Tuesday following the meeting of the party’s National Working Committee on Monday to discuss mainly the disagreements over the national budget.
" We will reset the button to address the impasse with regard to the budget. We intend to do that within a period five days to conclude the period of negotiation on the budget.
"We agree with a number of parties on a whole range of issues in relation to the budget. The only issue has been the question of VAT increase."
Parliament adopted the 2025 fiscal framework last week with the help of parties including ActionSA.
READ: GNU VAT disagreements won't affect KZN - Hlabisa
The DA, the ANC’s largest partner in the GNU, voted against it.
In response, Mbalula has accused the DA of trying to divide the government, confuse the public, and claim credit.
He says the GNU it requires high levels of political maturity and ‘revolutionary discipline’.
" We did not get into the GNU with an understanding that it is a melting pot and that everybody who is in the GNU will agree with the ANC.
"We have emphasised as the ANC that the GNU, for us as an option, was about prioritising national interest, people's interest and South Africa first.
"We understood that it was never going to be an easy journey considering it made up of role players diametrically opposed to us ideological."
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