Cape Town – 21 May 2025 — The African National Congress (ANC) has expressed strong support for the revised 2025 National Budget, which is set to be tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana alongside the Appropriation Bill and the Division of Revenue Act.

In a media statement issued ahead of the Budget Speech, the ANC framed the upcoming financial plan as a transformative and developmental budget that places the country’s most vulnerable at the centre of economic policy. The party said it expects the budget to stimulate job creation, protect the poor, enhance investor confidence, and drive long-term economic growth.

The ANC highlighted that the budget should prioritise key sectors such as early childhood development, healthcare, housing, infrastructure, education, and public transport. It also called for expanded VAT exemptions on basic food items to address the high cost of living.

Citing the recent improvement in South Africa’s credit rating by S&P Global, the ANC said the country is on a path toward political and economic stability. The party also reaffirmed its commitment to alternative revenue strategies and investment in the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to ensure sustainable fiscal management.

The statement stressed the need for equitable pay and a labour market that delivers living wages in line with inflation. It also underlined the importance of supporting local government, calling for investment in infrastructure and the review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government to improve service delivery.

The ANC urged Parliament to unite around the budget process, avoid political grandstanding, and focus on development and transformation goals. It emphasised the importance of public consultations and multi-sectoral collaboration in building a “people’s budget.”

The statement concluded with a commitment to mobilise support across civil society, labour, and business to ensure the successful adoption of the budget.