‘Please delete this lie’: Mckenzie slams DA’s budget delay claims

Cape Town – Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton Mckenzie has criticised the Democratic Alliance (DA) for claiming they forced the postponement of the National Budget Speech.

“The 2025/26 National Budget Speech has been postponed following intense DA pressure against a proposed 2% VAT increase.

The postponement of the Minister of Finance’s 2025/26 Budget Speech due to the DA’s opposition to the ANC’s VAT increase is a victory for the people of South Africa, as it prevents the implementation of a 2% VAT increase that would have broken the back of our economy. 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/RWwuiPSA9e

— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) February 19, 2025

“The DA unequivocally rejected the ANC’s VAT hike plan. If included in the budget, the DA was prepared to vote it down in Parliament. The DA will keep fighting to protect South Africans from higher taxes and fewer jobs,” read the post.

Mckenzie countered this assertion on social media, saying that the majority of Cabinet members opposed the budget and that the postponement was a result of collaborative discussions rather than a political conflict.

He urged the DA to retract their statement, emphasising that the Government of National Unity (GNU) demonstrated leadership without party politics.

“This is not true, the majority of members in Cabinet was against the budget, the Minister of Justice ( ANC ) & Minister of Electricity (ANC) spoke first against it, DA, IFP, PA FF Plus & PAC spoke out, it was not a fight, it was us listening to each other without party political heads. The Finance Minister graciously took note of everything that was said.

The budget speech is now scheduled for March 12, as announced by Speaker Thoko Didiza, to allow the Finance Minister and Treasury to finalise key issues.