ActionSA draws line in the sand: No support for ANC budget plans amid growing discontent

ActionSA has officially communicated to the African National Congress (ANC) Task Team involved in budget negotiations for 2025/26 that it cannot support current financial plan.

This decision follows productive meeting last Friday, where ActionSA aimed to position itself as a collaborative opposition, ready to discuss ANC’s proposals.

In a letter to ANC, ActionSA expressed its robust opposition to the planned increases in VAT and income tax, highlighting government inability to address significant inefficiencies and wastefulness within its operations.

ActionSA National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont pointed out this decision is largely influenced by budget formulated within Government of National Unity (GNU) that deliberately excluded ActionSA from consultation process.

Beaumont stated, “ActionSA cannot impose tax increases on South Africans to support those in GNU who are supposedly against these hikes while continuing to implement them at the expense of citizens.

He further contended any proposed budget should secure votes only from parties within GNU, alternatively, a completely new government would need to be established for the budget to pass successfully.

Amid complex political climate, ActionSA reaffirmed its role as a constructive opposition to a fragmented GNU, warning that current trends could lead to serious budgetary and constitutional crisis.

Beaumont called on all parties within GNU to conduct mature negotiations that prioritise the needs of the nation or to step aside if they are unwilling to engage responsibly.