By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
24 April 2025- The ANC said it reaffirm its longstanding commitment to transparent, inclusive and people-centred governance. The party said it has never supported a regressive tax policy that burdens the working class and the poor.
The ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the proposed 0.5% VAT increase was never the position of the ANC. Bhengu-Motsiri said faced with a changed parliamentary landscape, the ANC rose to the occasion by leading an unprecedented process of inclusive engagement—both within the Government of National Unity (GNU) and with opposition parties, who demonstrated a sincere commitment to nation-building.
“This moment has ushered in a new chapter in our democratic evolution—one where principled cooperation, not narrow political point-scoring, shapes the national agenda.
“We salute all political parties that put South Africa first and worked with maturity, humility, and integrity to reject any measures that would compromise the livelihoods of millions,” said Bhengu-Motsiri.
She further said the outcome is not a victory for any party—it is a victory for the people and for responsible, progressive leadership. Bhengu-Motsiri added that, it must be stated without ambiguity that the Democratic Alliance (DA) did not win in cabinet, in parliament, or in the courts.
“What they seek to brand as a “victory” is in fact the result of ANC-led consultations and consensus-building. The DA’s typical opportunistic attempt to claim victory is a continuation of their
typical insult to South Africans whom they consider voting cattle with no sense of thinking or reasoning.
“It further demonstrates their incapacity to understand principles of collaboration, persuasion and engagement on which our successful democracy is built, but continue to fashion themselves as ‘the baas in the room’ who must be solely unjustly glorified for any and all of South Africa’s successes since 1994,” she said.
Bhengu-Motsiri said, if the DA was genuinely concerned with the well-being of the South African people, it would not have tied its budget support to demands that roll back the gains of democracy—such as scrapping the National Health Insurance (NHI) Act, the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, and the Expropriation Bill.
She said these demands reflect a party beholden to the interests of the privileged few, not the aspirations of the majority. Bhengu-Motsiri said the ANC rejects and condemns the DA’s approach, which is rooted in a dangerous ideology of racial superiority and the belief that South Africans must remain beholden to those who benefitted from apartheid.
“Their politics seek to entrench the legacy of exclusion, not dismantle it. Thanks to the ANC’s progressive leadership, a principled agreement was reached to explore alternative funding mechanisms.
“As a result, the National Treasury has withdrawn the proposed VAT increase that was scheduled for implementation on 1 May 2025. This is a clear and resounding affirmation of the ANC’s commitment to fiscal justice, developmental governance and putting the people first,” said Bhengu-Motsiri.
She said as they move forward, the ANC remains firmly committed to building a society founded on equality, shared prosperity, and sustainable economic transformation. Bhengu-Motsiri said let them continue to work together in unity and with purpose to build a better life for all.
The Guardian 