Bulelwa Hoala

The first Budget Speech under the Government of National Unity (GNU) has been postponed to Wednesday, 12 March 2025.
This comes after the Cabinet did not approve the Budget that would have been presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana at 2PM on Wednesday, 19 February 2025 in Cape Town.
According to Kaya News, the matter in dispute is the proposed 2% VAT increase.
Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza made the announcement and said, “While today we have been gathered here to have the minister of finance to present the budget to the house that there has not been agreement in terms of parties in the executive to find one another in proposals of the budget.”
“The cabinet decided not to come and do a presentation of the budget and allow themselves enough time to re-look the budget and come back to this house in March the time in which they will inform us,” Didiza said.
A briefing is currently underway at Imbizo Media Centre, in Parliament.
So far, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has reiterated that the decision to postpone the Budget Speech was a collective decision by Cabinet and not by a single political party.
Ntshavheni says differences were across parties including MPs from the ANC.
“It’s the Cabinet Ministers who did not approve the Budget to be tabled and said they needed more time to engage.
“Between now and 12 March we will go back and engage as Cabinet on the Budget,” Ntshavheni said.
*This is a developing story. Follow @KayaNews on X for more information.
Meanwhile, see the reactions of the Members of Parliament below:
#ANC secretary general #FikileMbalula reacts to the postponement of the #BudgetSpeech2025 outside Parliament.
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) February 19, 2025
He says government is being undermined. KH #KayaNews pic.twitter.com/ykCCWNTFaU
EFF leader Julius Malema in response to the postponement of the #Budget2025,
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) February 19, 2025
"We must all know that this is unprecedented. And this is not a practice that we want to set for this parliament. It is going to be your legacy, Speaker, that during your tenure, parliament could not… pic.twitter.com/uOhHMr3x1u
The MK party's Mzwanele Manyi in response to the postponement of the #Budget2025,
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) February 19, 2025
"For us this day is actually quite a shocker, we are shocked. In the past 30 years – to have a day like this is a serious indication of the crisis this country is facing. This country has got no… pic.twitter.com/5Wh7IjjyLq
BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane in response to the postponement of the #Budget2025,
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) February 19, 2025
"Today does mark a historic day… We must be given a firm date so that we can work the timetable consistent with law otherwise the disagreement that took place today will end up in the court of law…… pic.twitter.com/UxRfZ7JN2h
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