ACTIONSA has hinted at reconsidering its position on whether or not to join the Government of National Unity (GNU) if the DA is either kicked out or voluntarily walks out.

This was announced by the party parliamentary leader Athol Trolip during a media briefing in Cape Town on Thursday. ActionSA emerged as the kingmaker in helping the ANC pass the fiscal framework during the debate in Parliament on Wednesday.

This has left the DA fuming, accusing the party led by its former senior member Herman Mashaba, of selling out. The DA is currently considering its position in the GNU, and intends hauling Parliament to court over Wednesday’s vote.

Trolip said the DA was well within its rights to pursue legal remedies in line with their views.

“What must also be noted about the DA is that ActionSA made genuine efforts to engage with them on the budget - efforts that were met with no willingness to engage. We were more than prepared to have these discussions, just as we also reached out to Dr John Hlophe of MK and the EFF. ActionSA, as the only constructive opposition in parliament, has taken deliberate steps to consult as broadly as possible to find a resolution in the best interests of South Africans,” he said.

ActionSA has opposed any increase in VAT and the stealth tax of personal income tax bracket creep, said Trolip, adding: “We remain resolute in our commitment to shielding ordinary South Africans from unjust and unnecessary tax hikes.

“What must be made clear is that yesterday’s adoption of the report was about determining the size of the government’s spending and was the first step in kickstarting the substantive deliberations necessary to develop the appropriation, revenue and tax bills in the coming days, weeks and months. The stark reality is that government expenditure has spiralled out of control with widespread wastage, placing our fiscal position in serious jeopardy. This demands tough yet responsible decisions. Engaging in grandstanding and political brinkmanship does nothing to resolve this crisis - in fact, it only deepens it. Without responsible action, we risk finding ourselves months down the line without a set budget and with an economy in tatters,” said Trolip.

He said his party chose to recommend changes to the Fiscal Framework rather than amend it outright because an amendment would have required the Minister of Finance to redo the entire Budget process.

“This would have caused delays, instability, and - critically - allowed the VAT increase to take effect on 1 May with little recourse, the very outcome we are fighting against. Instead, our approach allows for the necessary time to table alternative revenue proposals, and, most importantly, gazette the postponement of the VAT increase, without triggering a full Budget revision.”

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said: "We reject any attempts to weaponise budget debates to undermine progressive reforms that uplift marginalised communities. Our commitment to protecting working-class families and the poor is unwavering, which is why we advocate for expanding VAT exemptions on essential goods ensuring that austerity measures never fall disproportionately on those least able to bear them.”

Cape Times