DA heads to court over 2025 budget approval

The DA says it's taking legal action to challenge the process.

The 2025 fiscal framework was passed on Wednesday afternoon with support from the ANC, IFP, the Patriotic Alliance and ActionSA. The DA, EFF and the MK Party voted against it.

There were no abstentions.

The 0.5% VAT increase was a bone of contention during negotiations between GNU partners, the ANC and the DA.

Democratic Alliance leader, John Steenhuisen, believes the process to get the budget through Parliament was unconstitutional.

"Legal action is already underway to challenge the committee proceedings and the legality of today's sitting. The voters must understand the implications of this. ActionSA did not get a deal. VAT will come in on the first of May unless it's legally challenged."

The EFF says it's also consulting its lawyers. Meanwhile, ActionSA's Athol Trollip says they chose to recommend changes instead of amending the fiscal framework entirely, as that would've required a complete budget redo.

"We can fill the fiscal gap that the budget was supposed to be filled by VAT. We can say we are going to hold you to it. Enoch Godongwana [and] the revenue services say there is no need to increase VAT.

“We have given this budget proposal a 30-day period for reconsideration. You know what is interesting? This 42-day delay that we have had is costing our economy every day."