Cabinet spokesperson and Presidency Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has hit back at the Democratic Alliance’s opposition to the budget, saying it is not in the interest of the people but rather about reversing the gains of transformation and the Expropriation Act.

Ntshavheni claimed that the opposition was “anti-poor” and “anti-middle class”, accusing the DA of fronting it.

“It's petty that they have got the megaphones, and they have got scribes who can make their voices very loud.

“But they drew, and they've come out and said it themselves,” she said.

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Her remarks come after the DA leader John Steenhuisen told the ANC in the Government of National Unity (GNU) that his party will not support the national budget proposal that included a Value Added Tax (VAT) hike.

Steenhuisen stated that the ANC declined to support the proposed reforms aimed at stimulating economic growth, generating employment, reducing inefficiencies, and lowering taxes within a three-year timeframe.

“Instead, they insisted on two likely permanent VAT increases, which cumulatively will increase VAT by 1% over the next two years,” he added.

According to Ntshavheni, the DA’s issue with VAT had nothing to do with their interest in protecting the poor.

“Their issue is because they are always interested in making sure that we don't achieve the transformation gains this country has set themselves to.

“It's about politics. It's about the BELA Act that seeks to make sure that children have access to schooling and are better in the areas where they live.

“It's about the BELA Act that makes sure that children can have access to early childhood development learning. It's about NHI that demands that all South Africans must have access to basic and quality healthcare,” she said.

Ntshavheni claimed that these were gains that the DA sought to reverse.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled the budget in Cape Town on Wednesday. Cabinet has welcomed the budget, Ntshavheni said.

Meanwhile, opposition parties including MK Party, DA, Freedom Front Plus, and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have also rejected and condemned the budget proposal to raise VAT.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

IOL Politics