EFF AND ANC BUDGET MEETING 2025 @KASIBCNEWS

A delegation of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by the President and Commander in Chief Julius Malema met with the leadership team of the African National Congress (ANC) led by its Secretary General Fikile Mbalula this afternoon, 11 April 2025 at the Southern Sun Hotel, Sandton. 

The ANC delegation consisted of; a) Fikile Mbalula: ANC Secretary General and Chair of the ANC Delegation to the Meeting b) Gwede Mantashe: ANC National Chairperson c) Gwen Ramokgopa: ANC Treasurer General d) Nomvula Mokonyane: ANC 1st Deputy Secretary General e) Maropene Ramokgopa: ANC 2nd Deputy Secretary General f) David Makhura: ANC NEC Member and Head of Political Education g) Zuko Godlimpi: ANC NEC Member and Chair of Economic Transformation Committee h) Parks Tau: ANC NEC Member i) Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri: ANC NEC member and National Spokesperson j) Comrade Andries Nel: ANC Legal Adviser 

The EFF delegation consisted of; a) Commander in Chief and President of the EFF, Julius Malema b) Secretary General of the EFF, Marshall Dlamini c) Deputy Secretary General of the EFF, Leigh-Ann Mathys d) Treasurer General of the EFF, Omphile Maotwe e) National Spokespersons of the EFF, Sinawo Thambo and Thembi Msane f) EFF Head of Presidency, Vuyani Pambo g) EFF Senior Researcher, Dr Gumani Tshimomola  

The meeting follows months of uncertainty around the National Budget for 2025, and particularly the recent passing of the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals for 2025 in the National Assembly on the 03rd of April 2025. 

The EFF reaffirmed its principled rejection of a 0.5 percentage point increase in Value Added Taxes (VAT) for the year 2025 as a mechanism to generate revenue. Our rejection of VAT Hikes was exhibited by our vote against the adoption of the Standing Committee on Finance’s Report in the National Assembly, which was a product of a flawed and irregular process that is now subject to judicial review. 

The discussion reflected on the importance of resolving the budget impasse while ensuring that the poorest of the poor are safeguarded through sound economic planning. Furthermore, the meeting reflected on the upcoming budgeting processes regarding the Division of Revenue Bill and Appropriations Bill. 

The EFF wants to make it categorically clear that we are under no illusion that there is any legislative possibility of reversing the VAT increases which were supported in the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposal by various political parties in the Standing Committee on Finance and subsequently in the National Assembly. Our engagements with the ANC must therefore not be mistaken as participation in a fruitless exercise to seek alternatives to the VAT increases within 30-days under the false hope that such alternatives will be implemented before the 01st of May 2025. This is simply not practical, realistic or legislatively permissible. 

All political parties which voted in support of the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposal which included the VAT increases must take responsibility for their actions and desist from giving the people of South Africa false hope that non-binding recommendations can reverse what they supported. 

The EFF correctly made its proposed amendments which were permissible under the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Other Related Matters Act during the Standing Committee on Finance Meeting on the 02nd of April 2025 and additionally submitted these proposals which were not captured in the Committee Report to the Minister of Finance. Additionally, we have since circulated a comprehensive document containing our sensible alternative revenue generation mechanisms to the public. 

The EFF engagements with the ANC are part and parcel of the road towards the upcoming budget process, and form part of the ANC’s outreach to other political parties in its claimed efforts to reset and/or reconfigure the Government of National Unity (GNU). 

This was the first round of these engagements and the EFF will provide updates to the nation as is necessary on progress regarding these negotiations. Our position with regards to participation in the GNU and support for any legislation that is a product of a GNU government constituted by the DA and Freedom Front Plus remains clear and consistent. 

The EFF will not support any financial piece of legislation that will be presided over by racists who reject such legislation, yet want to continue operating in Cabinet using budgets they did not support. 

Furthermore, the EFF will only participate in the GNU on the condition that it does not include the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) who are at the centre of the chaos and confusion occurring in government today.