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The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) welcomes several aspects of the 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) that align with the priorities and expectations we have consistently championed; including fiscal prudence, inclusive growth, and pro-poor spending.

The IFP notes with appreciation the progress made following South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Greylist. However, we continue to call for clear and sustained measures to consolidate this progress through stronger financial oversight, enforcement of anti-corruption frameworks, and deliberate efforts to rebuild investor confidence.

We further welcome the advances in infrastructure investment, particularly the progress made in establishing partnerships and charting a clear path forward for the R1 trillion public infrastructure programme. The IFP has long maintained that large-scale infrastructure spending must not only stimulate economic growth but also create opportunities for the poor, small-scale producers, and rural communities.

The IFP also welcomes the in-year budget adjustments that reflect increased allocations towards education and healthcare.These areas remain essential investments in human capital and social stability.

We are encouraged by the progress in local government reform, notably through the Utility Reform Programme, which seeks to stabilise and professionalise water and electricity services in pilot municipalities. This is an important step toward restoring efficiency and accountability in local governance. Similarly, the IFP welcomes the positive momentum under Operation Vulindlela, whose structural reforms continue to address systemic inefficiencies in the economy.

Finally, we note the collaboration between the Department of Public Service and Administration, the Department of Home Affairs, and the National Treasury which demonstrates how inter-departmental cooperation can accelerate delivery, fiscal discipline and improve public service outcomes. 

The IFP remains steadfast in its call for a fiscally responsible, transparent, and people-centred approach to governance, one that prioritises sustainable growth, job creation, and the protection of South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens.

Issued by IFP Parliamentary Caucus Chief Whip Nhlanhla Hadebe