ANC-DA IN LAST-MINUTE BUDGET TALKS

DA threatens to walk out of GNU

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with DA leader John Steenhuisen just one day before the National Assembly aims to pass the 2025/26 fiscal framework and revenue proposals.

The highly anticipated discussion follows a previous bilateral meeting between the ANC and the DA, which ended without consensus on the VAT increase.

Both the Presidency and the DA have confirmed the upcoming meeting. “I can confirm that President Ramaphosa as well as our federal leader John Steenhuisen are scheduled to meet and after that, we will be able to come back with more,” DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau said.

The DA cancelled its 8.30am briefing after Steenhuisen took to social media, accusing the ANC of “imperilling the GNU” by refusing to finalise an agreement on growth and spending reforms.

“The DA will oppose the Budget unless and until a written agreement is reached,” he said.

But, ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli said the DA was opposing a reduction in the expenditure.

“We don’t agree with that,” Ntuli said.

He also said the second biggest party in the GNU wanted the government to do away with the National Youth Development Agency, and the National Health Insurance and Expropriation Act, among others.

“They are proposing some strange arrangement where the Deputy Minister, who happens to be from the DA, to be assigned certain responsibilities. What does that have to do with Budget?” he said.

Ntuli insisted that the Budget was geared towards massive investment in infrastructure as well as health and growing the economy.