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ActionSA has written to the ANC Task Team negotiating the passage of the 2025/26 budget to convey that ActionSA will not support the budget.

This follows a cordial meeting between the two parties on Friday, during which ActionSA made itself available to listen to the ANC’s proposals in a manner consistent with its position as a constructive opposition party.

In our letter to the ANC, ActionSA conveyed the view that the proposed increases in both VAT and income tax (through income tax bracket creep) cannot be supported for a government that has failed to address its own considerable wastage and inefficiencies. 

Central to our decision is the reality that this budget arises from a GNU that did not consult ActionSA in the development of the proposed budget. ActionSA cannot impose tax increases on South Africans to support those in the GNU who are notionally opposed to these increases, yet continue implementing them at the expense of South Africans.

Furthermore, ActionSA has communicated its view that either the votes to approve this budget must come from the parties within the GNU, or a new government capable of passing a budget must be constituted.

ActionSA remains committed to being a constructive opposition to an incoherent GNU that is forcing our country into an unprecedented budget and constitutional crisis, leaving spheres of government and organs of state uncertain about their financial allocations.

ActionSA calls on all parties in the GNU to engage in negotiations with maturity and in the best interests of the country or step aside if they are unwilling to do so.

Issued by ActionSA National Chairperson and ActionSA Parliamentary leader Michael Beaumont and Athol Trollip MP