It's crunch time for budget

Debate: Though deal may be close, DA wants ANC to make concessions

- Itumeleng Mafisa

Today is crunch time for the government's 2025 budget as a joint meeting of the standing committee on finance and select committee on finance meets to debate it.

While the DA and the ANC are close to striking a deal, the compromises they will have to make could haunt them - down the line.

If the committee passes the budget, it will proceed to the National Assembly for approval and vote tomorrow.

The ANC does not have enough representatives to pass the budget alone. Of the 400 seats in parliament, the party holds 159, so it must find another 42 votes.

Its biggest government of national unity (GNU) partner, the DA, holds 87 seats.

The ANC has spent the last four days in intense and frantic meetings with its GNU partner, and those outside the coalition.

After a DA proposal was reportedly dismissed out of hand last Friday, the ANC extended a "reasonable proposal" to the DA over the weekend.

While a deal may be close, DA spokesperson for finance Mark Burke said his party would only support the budget if the ANC is willing to make some concessions.