Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba told the ANC’s top leadership that the government would need R12bn to fund President Jacob Zuma’s plan to scrap tuition fees for students from poor homes, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Gigaba told the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) this week that the Treasury would cut from existing spending programmes and would not announce a special tax or an increase in the value-added tax (VAT) rate to finance Zuma’s plan, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorised to speak on the matter. The Treasury was still exploring ways to fund the plan and would only give further details about the amount needed in the February 21 budget, spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete said by phone. Zuma unveiled the free-education plan on December 16, two days before Cyril Ramaphosa replaced him as leader of the ANC. The party’s NEC met on Wednesday in East London to prepare for its anniversary celebrations on Saturd...
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