Godongwana’s Third Budget: A Defining Moment for South Africa’s Government of National Unity

As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to present the national budget for the third time on Wednesday, May 21, political analysts agree that this budget will be more than just numbers — it’s a defining moment for South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU).

Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the African National Congress (ANC) has largely controlled the budget process, often imposing its fiscal priorities with little pushback. But this year, that dynamic appears to be shifting.

Zakhele Ndlovu, a political analyst from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), explains:

“The ANC has tried to push its budget agenda again, with support from smaller parties like the IFP and UDM, but it didn’t succeed. The message is clear — the ANC now has to consult and compromise.”

Siyabonga Ntombela, also from UKZN, adds that the budget process is now a mirror reflecting the complexities of coalition governance.

“Politics is compromise. This budget will show if the GNU partners can listen to each other and work together.”

This third budget presentation comes after two earlier attempts were derailed — first in February, due to disagreements over a VAT hike, and then in March, when a proposal for two staggered VAT increases was blocked by the Western Cape High Court. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) also challenged the VAT hike in court.

The stakes are high. Analysts say that if this budget passes, it will signal that the ANC has accepted its role within a coalition government — a co-governance model where partners must negotiate and find common ground.

However, failure to deliver a budget that balances the competing demands of coalition partners and public expectations could deepen mistrust in the GNU and undermine confidence in coalition governments overall.

Ntombela warns:

“If the GNU doesn’t show it can deliver, voters may see coalitions as ineffective.”

Ndlovu echoes this concern, pointing to the upcoming local government elections:

“If expectations are not met, all GNU partners will have to answer to voters.”

As the country watches closely, Godongwana’s budget will be a crucial test not only of fiscal policy but of political collaboration in South Africa’s evolving democratic landscape.

{Source: IOL}

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