Cape Town – ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has hailed the end of African National Congress (ANC) dominance, saying it marks a new era where unilateral decisions like tax hikes are no longer possible.
Mashaba was speaking during a joint opposition media briefing in Sandton on Thursday, following Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to withdraw a proposed 0.5 percentage point increase in value-added tax (VAT).
🚫 “ActionSA rejected the budget as long as the VAT increase remained in place – today our position has been vindicated.”
ActionSA President @HermanMashaba outlines the bold and daring efforts made by constructive political parties in prioritising South Africans first by… pic.twitter.com/4FKQ9Xy2gL
— ActionSA (@Action4SA) April 25, 2025
The proposed VAT hike, initially introduced without full consultation, sparked backlash from coalition partners within the Government of National Unity (GNU), prompting a budget speech postponement in February.
Mashaba credited the VAT reversal as a win for ordinary South Africans and the strength of a growing multi-party democracy. “No one party can impose their will on you, the people of our country,” he said, according to EWN.
Today, we announce that the VAT increase has been SCRAPPED — the result of collective efforts by parties that put South Africans first 🇿🇦
This is what ActionSA promised from day 1, and it is exactly what this collective has delivered. pic.twitter.com/na6pLT9WfQ
— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) April 24, 2025
While Mashaba reiterated ActionSA’s commitment to holding government accountable, he clarified that joining the GNU remains off the table for his party.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
