Calls for Godongwana's resignation following VAT increase court ruling

EFF president Julius Malema has joined the chorus calling for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana along with his Director-General, Duncan Pieterse, to resign over the VAT battle.

- MASHUDU SADIKE

The Red Berets leader made the call during a media briefing yesterday, after the Western Cape High Court's full bench set aside the adopted 2025 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals and suspended the implementation of the 0.5 percentage point VAT increase which was set to come into effect on May 1.

The EFF and the DA had approached the court to have the VAT increase announcement by Godongwana as well as the adoption of the finance committees' report by both Houses set aside. After the matter was argued, the Finance Minister announced that the VAT increase would not be implemented.

However, the court matter continued as the DA said the court must specifically issue an order to stop the VAT increase, on the basis that the Fiscal Framework was unlawfully adopted in both the Finance Portfolio Committee and Parliament itself. The order was granted by consent of all parties. Malema stated that the court's decision represents a victory for the people of South Africa, especially the poor and working class, who would have been severely impacted by the VAT increase.