Search

South Africa’s Budget Battle Deepens as Coalition Divisions Widen

Subscriber only Subscriber only
South Africa s Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana. ©Imago / Alamy Stock Photo
  • Political deadlock over VAT hike threatens Government of National Unity
  • Investors await clarity as economic uncertainty fuels market volatility

Johannesburg, South Africa – South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s national budget has exposed deep divisions within the Government of National Unity (GNU), with coalition partners, opposition parties, and civil society rejecting proposed tax hikes. The most contentious measure is a planned 0.5 percentage point increase in value-added tax (VAT) in 2025/26, followed by a similar rise in 2026/27—though the second hike may be reconsidered if alternative revenue-raising measures prove effective.

You need an active subscription to continue reading this article.

Recent Business

Farm export. Photo by Soo Ann Woon @ Unsplash
South Africa’s farm exports to US jump despite tariff threat
Read More »
Roundabout in Yaounde, Cameroon @ Pexels
Cameroon seeks $1.7 billion in fresh borrowing to cover fiscal gap
Read More »
Ecobank building @ Pexels
Is Ecobank’s AI bet paying off as Nedbank exits and Nkontchou doubles down?
Read More »

Recent Politics

Photo by Omotayo Tajudeen © Unsplash /Nigeria
Nigeria arrests Al-Qaeda-linked rebels disrupting food supply
Read More »
Kenya youth protest @ Unsplash
Kenya’s Gachagua cuts short U.S. trip as political feud with Ruto heats up
Read More »
Kenya youth protest. Photo by Hassan Kibwana @ Unsplash
Is U.S.-Kenya tension over Sudan rebel links really about China?
Read More »

Latest Posts

Latest news insights