Following weeks of intense deliberation and multi-party engagement, Build One South Africa (BOSA) welcomes Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to withdraw the proposed 0.5 percentage point VAT hike.
This outcome is a direct result of sustained pressure and principled advocacy, with BOSA playing a central role in ensuring that the voices of South Africans were heard loud and clear. It proves that when Parliament works as it should, people come first.
BOSA took the lead, stayed the course, and did the hard work, even when it was tough, thankless and at times unpopular. We remained in the room, driving solutions and putting South Africans first at every turn.
Despite well-funded misinformation campaigns designed to discredit us, we refused to be distracted or derailed. We are proud that, through our unwavering commitment and principled leadership, common sense has prevailed.
This outcome is the result of ten political parties, including BOSA, who took the responsible decision to adopt the fiscal framework in Parliament on 5 April, and then rolled up our sleeves and got to work.
Since then, we’ve held a series of engagements to consider various submissions aimed at plugging the country’s fiscal hole, without resorting to a VAT increase. We thank the parties who acted responsibly – as public representatives should – by keeping the focus on South Africans who need a budget that works for them.
From the outset, BOSA took a principled and responsible position: that any increase to VAT would hurt struggling South African households and should be avoided at all costs.
Our support for the process came with clear, non-negotiable conditions: if the proposed VAT increase was not reversed, BOSA would withdraw its support for the budget. We made it known that our support was not a blank cheque, but a conditional commitment to do what is best for South Africa.
We must now turn our collective focus to driving real economic growth. This means implementing structural reforms, ensuring legislative certainty, and accelerating infrastructure investment to unlock our economic potential. We must grow the economy, not the tax burden. Now is the time to work with urgency in Parliament to deliver the conditions for long-term, inclusive growth.
We now look forward to working with all parties committed to passing a R2.1 trillion national budget that drives economic growth, creates jobs, and delivers basic services. This ought to be conducted in an open and transparent matter without being held hostage to the narrow interests of any political party.
Finally, we can hope this political juncture acts as a teaching moment for those parties who throw tantrums when they can’t get their way. South Africa isn’t here to serve the elite, and it’s time they learn that lesson.
Media Statement by
Roger Solomons: BOSA Acting Spokesperson
Thursday 24 April 2025
Media Enquiries:
Roger Solomons – BOSA Acting Spokesperson – 072 299 3551