BOSA’s R180bn plan to reverse the VAT hike

BUILD One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane has reiterated his party’s commitment to collaborating with other political organisations to amend the Fiscal Framework and eliminate the VAT increase in the 2025/26 Budget. Addressing the media in Parliament, Maimane said a solution must be found by all parties working at addressing the Budget.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

“We stand ready to work with all parties that are committed to credible, inclusive and result-oriented budget. There is no time for political theatrics, no time for us to play games and so I have said this and this one goes to court,” Maimane said.

He made the statement hours before his party was to attend a meeting with the ANC and other Government of National Unity (GNU) parties that want no support of the Fiscal Framework this week. Maimane defended their vote for the fiscal framework last week, saying it would have been a disaster if it had not gone through.

“It literally means that you deal with a country without a Budget.”

He said there proposals to be tabled at the meeting with other parties came with a number of conditions.

BOSA deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster said BOSA was clear that the reversal of VAT increase and tax creep has to happen.

Hlazo-Webster also said one of their conditions was a full review of government expenditure to identify areas where cuts could be made.

“Bosa wants departments with overlapping mandates to be streamlined and vanity projects to be scrapped to redirect funds towards education, health, infrastructure and job creation. We still have an incredibly high unemployment rate close to 40%. We need to be able to attract investment and create jobs,” Hlazo-Webster said.