Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has urged Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke to investigate what it terms “fruitless and wasteful expenditure” incurred during the preparations for last month’s Budget Speech, which was influenced by the proposed VAT hike.
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana was scheduled to give the first budget speech of the Government of National Unity (GNU) on February 19.
However, it was postponed to March 12 to allow engagement within the GNU over the proposed VAT increase.
Despite the postponement, expenses related to the Budget Speech were still incurred, encompassing logistical costs, printing and promotional materials, travel and accommodation for government officials and stakeholders, as well as consulting and advisory services, along with broadcasting and media arrangements. This information was reported by the MK Party, who expressed concern over these costs.
MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said the party had written a letter to Maluleke, condemning the “reckless and wasteful expenditure” incurred in the budget speech that was cancelled.
”This is yet another glaring example of the so-called Government of National Unity's (GNU) failure to govern responsibly,” Ndhlela said.
“Millions of rands were squandered on logistics, security, printing, travel, consultants and media arrangements for a Budget Speech that was ultimately abandoned.”
Ndhlela added that at a time when South Africans grapple with rising costs, joblessness, and poor service delivery, this “blatant waste of public funds is an insult to the people.”
The party said it requested a full forensic audit into the costs associated with the undelivered speech.
“External experts were paid handsomely for work that never saw the light of day,” he said.
“Live streaming and press conference setups wasted on an absence.”
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He slammed the GNU, saying that it had not only embarrassed the nation, but it had also depended on the fiscal crisis through incompetence.
“The MK Party will not allow those responsible to get away with this reckless misuse of public funds. We demand accountability and urgent action to prevent further looting disguised as governance,” Ndhlela said.
Earlier on Tuesday, IOL News reported that the 2025 budget has been approved after a team led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, with support from the National Treasury, tabled various options that persuaded the Cabinet to green-light the new budget.
In a statement, the Cabinet mandated Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to select from their discussed options and fund the budget in a manner that considered the fiscal constraints, mitigated the impact on the poor and middle-income households and supported economic growth.
Godongwana and the National Treasury are now set to finalise the budget and table it before parliament on March 12.
This comes after the Cabinet held a special meeting on Monday to discuss the budget fallout, which allowed lawmakers to deliberate more on the budget and its impact on citizens.
This comes after last week, Cabinet reportedly rejected a reworked Budget, this time without the 2% VAT increase, Godongwana said that it will not work for the people.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had to set up a team of Ministers led by Mashatile to swiftly assist Godongwana in consolidating cabinet inputs for further consideration.
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