---
title: "Power Chat – Ferial Haffajee unpacks Budget 2025 and the GNU with Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen"
description: "As negotiations between the ANC and DA over the national Budget dragged into the early hours of 1 April 2025, no agreement was reached — deepening the ongoing deadlock within the Government of National Unity (GNU). Just days before, Ferial Haffajee sat down with Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen to unpack the key issues surrounding Budget 2025 and the GNU. Here’s an excerpt from their conversation."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "PODCAST"
author: "Ferial Haffajee"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/ferialhaffajee/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-02-power-chat-ferial-haffajee-speaks-to-deputy-finance-minister-ashor-sarupen-about-the-budget-and-the-gnu-after-talks-collapsed/"
published: "2025-04-02T17:45:57"
updated: "2025-04-02T17:55:37"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 25
---

# Power Chat – Ferial Haffajee unpacks Budget 2025 and the GNU with Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen

> As negotiations between the ANC and DA over the national Budget dragged into the early hours of 1 April 2025, no agreement was reached — deepening the ongoing deadlock within the Government of National Unity (GNU). Just days before, Ferial Haffajee sat down with Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen to unpack the key issues surrounding Budget 2025 and the GNU. Here’s an excerpt from their conversation.

By Ferial Haffajee · Published 2 April 2025, 19:45 SAST · Updated 2 April 2025, 19:55 SAST

## Key points
- In a world where democracy often feels like a game of hide-and-seek, this riveting production by Bernard Kotze and Emilie Gambade serves up a hearty reminder that the truth is worth chasing down, even if it takes a few unexpected twists and turns.
- A new video from Daily Maverick explores the critical role of journalism in safeguarding democracy.
- Produced by Bernard Kotze and Emilie Gambade, it highlights the challenges faced by the media today.
- The piece urges viewers to support independent journalism as a means to protect democratic values.
- Subscribe to the Daily Maverick YouTube channel for more insightful content.

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video player"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj8Uve-qTQ4)

[Media](https://player.simplecast.com/8c50ff11-f8d3-4972-8cf3-5b09a0f6708e?dark=true)

![Listen On Spotify](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Listen-720x213.png)![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Apple-Podcasts-1-720x213.png)

Produced by: Emilie Gambade & Bernard Kotze

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