ActionSA national chairperson, Michael Beaumont, said they were willing to enter into budget negotiations with the ANC only to save government.
Image: File
ActionSA says it is frustrating the ANC is only now engaging in talks with parties outside the Government of National Unity (GNU) over the budget after failing to consult them before the budget was approved, while the MK Party says, “Remove the DA if you want support”.
The ANC is currently in talks with opposition parties including ActionSA, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) as well as MKP for its vote in support of the budget.
This comes after the DA announced that it will not support the 2025 budget with a Value Added Tax (VAT) increase.
While the budget has been tabled in Parliament, political parties must still vote for it to be passed.
Speaking to IOL, ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont confirmed that they met with the ANC to discuss the budget, however, no official agreement was reached.
“We met with the ANC and discussions are still ongoing. The ANC made their demands and will respond to them. ActionSA leadership will meet and discuss the way forward and then we will get back to them,” he said.
He stated it was rather stressful that the ANC was trying to get their views on the budget now when it did not need one before, but they will cooperate for the sake of saving the government.
“It is frustrating that the ANC is now in talks with parties outside the GNU that they did not consult when discussing the budget,” he said.
MKP’s spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela also confirmed that they met with the ANC, but they did not know what the agenda was until they got into the meeting.
“We only knew about the agenda when we got into the meeting. Part of the agenda included the budget, and we started with the discussions,” he said.
Ndhlela told IOL that the party was discussing the possibility of supporting the ANC in the budget negotiations.
He made it clear that they did not want the DA near the budget negotiations.
“Two things, we will not support a budget with a VAT hike and the budget that includes the DA in it. Never on God’s earth that we will sit on the table with the DA and negotiate, never!” he said.
The EFF also clarified that they were open to negotiations that excluded the DA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+).
It also reiterated its position that it will not support the VAT increment.
Meanwhile, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula stated that his party was ready to collaborate with parties that are not in the GNU, in a bid to garner support for the national budget.
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