GNU remains stable despite Budget dispute – Ramaphosa

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Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa insists that the Government of National Unity (GNU) remains intact despite disagreements among its partners.

In his weekly letter, he downplayed concerns over the postponed budget, saying it wasunlikely to erode public confidence.

The delay, the first since 1994, resulted from political party disputes, including a proposed 2% tax increase.

While Ramaphosa acknowledged the uncertainty it caused among South Africans, investors, and financial markets, he stressed that such disagreements were part of a healthy democracy.

“The last-minute postponement was unfortunate. It gave rise to concern and uncertainty among South Africans, investors and the financial markets, who look to the Budget for important signals about the state and direction of our economy.

“The budget reflects government’s choices and priorities for the country’s development. Decisions on how to spend public funds have implications for every South African.

“It is therefore essential that the concerns raised by different parties around the budget are properly addressed, in the interests of accountability, transparency and consensus-building,” Ramaphosa said.

He reassured that the GNU is not in crisis but functions on consensus-building, where no single party can dictate decisions.

“Disagreements, contradictions and policy divergence are inherent in governments made up of several political parties. It has been more than six months since the formation of the GNU.

“Despite disagreement between parties on a range of matters, the centre holds. It is a sign of a healthy and robust democracy that such differences may emerge from time to time and be ventilated in public.

“Such differences don’t mean that the GNU is in crisis. It means that democracy is working,” said the president.

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