The much-anticipated Budget Speech which was scheduled for this evening, has been postponed to the second week of March. This is due to disagreements among the member parties of the Government of National Unity (GNU) regarding the suggested 2% tax hikes.

POSTPONED!

After President Cyril Ramaphosa called an urgent meeting hours before the delivery of the budget speech, Speaker of Parliament Thoko Didiza announced that the tabling of the budget speech by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was postponed to a later date. The Speaker told parliamentarians that she had a consultation with the whips of parties and that they had all decided to adjourn the proceeding for a date to be determined. "We were consulted by the executive through the leader of the government business. Having applied my mind as the speaker, it was clear that no budget would be tabled. It was for that reason that I consulted all the parties. Two of the parties did express their concerns. But unanimously all the parties agreed that we should postpone," she said.

DECISION MADE ON RUMOURS

Different political parties have expressed shock at the decision to postpone the tabling of the budget speech. MK Party chief whip Mzwanele Manyi said it was shocking that after 30 years of democracy, this kind of thing happens because of rumours. "This is shocking; this is a serious indication that we have a crisis as a country. This country has no leadership. Let the minister come say whatever he wanted to say. We hear rumours that VAT would have been increased by 2%. The minister should have come here and said what he wanted to say and we would dealt with it," Manyi said. ATM leader Vuyolwethu Zungula asked the Speaker who makes decisions in Parliament. "Who decides? If you are going to allow chief whips to decide, then that's problematic. We cannot allow a case of incompetence from the executive and make it look like the whole Parliament is incompetent. Let the minister come and present his speech, then we, as the representatives of the people, will take a collective decision."

CHAOS AND INCOMPETENCE

EFF's Julius Malema said for the first time in democratic history, the budget speech has been postponed due to infighting and chaos within the GNU. "This government is collapsing before our eyes, failing to lead and failing our people. The postponement of the budget is not a sign of democracy, maturity or consultation; it is a symptom of weak, indecisive, and opportunistic governance that has left millions of South Africans uncertain about their future." Malema said. He added: "There is no government, only chaos and incompetence, and the people of South Africa must know the truth." DA leader John Steenhuisen said the postponement of the budget speech is a victory for the people of South Africa, as it prevents the implementation of a 2% VAT increase that would have broken the back of our economy. "The budget still needs to be tabled, and we as South Africans need to show that we will not accept any new tax increases. Tax increases are a short-term cash grab that will make life harder for ordinary South Africans, making food, transport and daily essentials more expensive," Steenhuisen said. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the budget speech has been rescheduled for 12 March.