SA needs a growth-stimulating budget to push it out of the slow-moving lane
30 March 2025 - 14:31
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Typically, in an honourable parliament, the failure to pass the national budget results in the resignation of the government of the day, a general election and the establishment of a new government, whether by way of a majority or a coalition.
If the government does not resign voluntarily, there should be a motion of no confidence introduced and voted for by the dissenting parties, which should likewise result in the departure of the incumbent government.
In SA’s case, and given the makeup of our “homeless” parliament, this means if the DA, ActionSA, IFP, Freedom Fron Plus et al, and the MK party and EFF, vote against the budget this week, as most of them have threatened to do, we could witness a much-needed dramatic political game change in our country.
This would jerk us out of the dysfunctional current governance structure, the unworkable mishmash of a “government of national unity” (GNU). If the DA and other like-minded parties got their act together, this could lead to a new coalition in which the ANC would not be able to continue its current arrogant dominance over other coalition members, especially the DA, which has been to the detriment of our country.
But how do the DA and other members of the GNU vote against a government of which they are part, and do we have a government that will do the right and honourable thing if defeated in the vote on the national budget?
Sadly, we are likely to be presented with yet another self-preservation compromise from the DA and other GNU members and a tweak-here-tweak-there budget that leaves our economy in the slow-moving lane it currently finds itself, and our country devoid of the radically different real growth-stimulating budget it needs.
But perhaps April 2 will be a D-Day for the DA, a victory for political courage and integrity, and a win in the battle for a better form of governance in our country.
David Gant Kenilworth
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: Self-preservation motivates GNU members
SA needs a growth-stimulating budget to push it out of the slow-moving lane
Tamar Khan’s article refers (“GNU closer to a compromise on budget than people think, says Steenhuisen”, March 28).
Typically, in an honourable parliament, the failure to pass the national budget results in the resignation of the government of the day, a general election and the establishment of a new government, whether by way of a majority or a coalition.
If the government does not resign voluntarily, there should be a motion of no confidence introduced and voted for by the dissenting parties, which should likewise result in the departure of the incumbent government.
In SA’s case, and given the makeup of our “homeless” parliament, this means if the DA, ActionSA, IFP, Freedom Fron Plus et al, and the MK party and EFF, vote against the budget this week, as most of them have threatened to do, we could witness a much-needed dramatic political game change in our country.
This would jerk us out of the dysfunctional current governance structure, the unworkable mishmash of a “government of national unity” (GNU). If the DA and other like-minded parties got their act together, this could lead to a new coalition in which the ANC would not be able to continue its current arrogant dominance over other coalition members, especially the DA, which has been to the detriment of our country.
But how do the DA and other members of the GNU vote against a government of which they are part, and do we have a government that will do the right and honourable thing if defeated in the vote on the national budget?
Sadly, we are likely to be presented with yet another self-preservation compromise from the DA and other GNU members and a tweak-here-tweak-there budget that leaves our economy in the slow-moving lane it currently finds itself, and our country devoid of the radically different real growth-stimulating budget it needs.
But perhaps April 2 will be a D-Day for the DA, a victory for political courage and integrity, and a win in the battle for a better form of governance in our country.
David Gant
Kenilworth
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
CHRIS BARRON: The basic economic reality the ANC doesn’t get
NATASHA MARRIAN: Red berets are too heavy a weight for the fragile GNU
GNU closer to a compromise on budget than people think, says Steenhuisen
Cosatu calls on parliament to scrap the VAT hike
No clear path to pass the budget yet
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
GNU closer to a compromise on budget than people think, says Steenhuisen
NATASHA MARRIAN: Red berets are too heavy a weight for the fragile GNU
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.