Government planned to spend VAT on civil servant pay hikes, Grade R

It is an absolute disgrace that they leave things to after the last minute. Their competency is in question (as if it wasn't before). If this is how they run the goddam budget how much worse is everything else that we're not seeing?

I can't help feeling that one of the reasons for proposing an increase in tax is because of a failure/ refusal to deal with our public sector wage problem! This is not the fault of our Finance Minister - but it is that of the party to which he belongs! We have to confront this

Actually see this as positive - creates opportunities for ventilation and checks and balances BEFOREHAND.

This implies that all the GNU members were not advised up front as to what was in the budget. The ANC need to remember they are a coalition Government to all intents and purposes.

The DA is opposed to the VAT increase? Would they prefer that R60b gets raised from extra personal income tax hikes?

Well done DA Imagine the masses realizing that hey should have voted for the DA !! Time for business to step up and back the DA and like minded parties on the running of the economy Vote DA its simple

R700bn in SOE bailouts since 2013, R365bn a year lost in exports because of SOE logistics failures, loadshedding losses (SOE failure) to GDP of R225bn from 2020 to 2023, and yet the ANC wants to raise taxes instead of cutting them loose and getting private investment? Criminal at every level!

If a cabinet minister did actually leak confidential data (unrelated to a crime), then he/she MUST be fired immediately. The GNU cannot operate like a treehouse committee.

All they have to do is get rid of the corruption in government and the SOEs. Then we would be cash-flush. But that isn't in the cadre's interests, even if it is in the interests of the voters and population.

"Godongwana accuses Cabinet Minister of leaking VAT hike proposal to media" This implies this was an ANC budget, only relaeaed to GNU partners at the last minute. No ANC no! All GNU partners should have been included and their requirements included, to some extent

Well done DA. Don't listen to DM that is already trying to spin this as pure brinkmanship. It was time to push back against the ANC who have negotiated in bad faith from the get go. Thank you!

@fernando morera…the masses, those who actually do who vote, do so on the basis of optics, kinship, and promised subsidies, not merit. That’s why Midvaal and Umgeni remain islands. No use bewailing this. DA etc have to learn how to deal with this REALITY and stop handwringing…

The Anc has bankrupted the country and destroyed the economy. The country cannot continue to increase taxes to meet expenditure. Maybe, if corruption was meaningfully tackled the country would not be reduced to junk status. The presidents only concern is his party's interests.

i hope that this is a great embarrassment for the anc but then they are so thick skinned. once again they acted unilaterally let's hope this serves as a lesson. increasing salaries for already overpaid government employees, unbelievable! but then they fear cosatu and strikes.

Claim the R60b shortfall from the Guptas - they're the ones that led us into this mess! Together with Zuma, they are the architects of our Fiscal Destruction! Stop robbing the taxpayer & go after the real criminals & end BEE policies to encourage investment & new taxpayers into our Economy.