(The Post News)– Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader Julius Malema has dismissed engagement rumours about his party with the African National Congress (ANC). According to reports, the ANC was going to approach EFF with their new proposal of a 0.75% increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).
Malema was speaking with reporters on the sidelines of his 44th birthday celebration in Tembisa on Monday, where he stated that the ANC has never approached EFF. “We wanted them to represent a budget—we said let there be a discussion, and the people will decide if they want it or not,” Malema said. According to Malema, the discussion would be about finding a way that ensures that the country’s minerals are used to boost the economy while avoiding the VAT increase.
This comes after the Democratic Alliance (DA), EFF, UMkhonto Wesizwe Part (MKP), and other political parties publicly rejected Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2% VAT increase plan. This led to the postponement of the 2025 first quarter budget speech, which was meant to be delivered on February 19 and has been moved to March 12.
DA had suggested cost-cutting measures that would put an end to the funding of sector education training authorities and the National Skills. They also put forward the idea of bringing back the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Freedom Front Plus national chairperson Wouter Wessels had previously rejected the VAT increase plan, saying that his party does not support Godongwana’s proposal as it “will harm the economy and lead to more unemployment and impoverishment.”
Wessels added that his party proposed “cost-cutting measures, which he believes would effectively tackle the budget deficit, in a ‘better way’ than ‘unsustainable revenue enhancement measures such as VAT increases.’
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