The 2025 Budget must be a turning point for the South African economy and demonstrate a commitment to serious, fast-tracked reforms for growth, according to Dr. Mark Burke, DA spokesperson on Finance.
This budget will be presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana at a sitting of the National Assembly at the Cape Town City Hall on Wednesday.
“This budget must be a turning point for our economy,” Burke said.
“We cannot afford more of the same. After years of sluggish growth and a spiraling debt burden, we need urgent, decisive reforms to unlock our economic potential.”
The DA’s vision for the budget was clear: it had to be built on the strongest ideas from within the Government of National Unity (GNU) to drive investment, create jobs, and ensure long-term fiscal stability.
Above all, the DA remains resolute in its opposition to tax hikes.
“We strongly oppose any increases to personal income tax, corporate tax, or VAT,” Burke stated.
“Reports suggesting that tax increases might be tabled are deeply concerning. The cost-of-living crisis has already pushed households to their breaking point. Even COSATU has warned against such hikes. Any attempt to raise taxes will face fierce resistance—not only from Parliament but also from within the GNU itself.”
For years, the DA had championed measures to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis, advocating for reforms in fuel levies and an expansion of the zero-rated VAT basket.
Now, the party was calling for urgent, pro-growth reforms, including immediate port concessions in Cape Town, Richards Bay, and Port Elizabeth to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
The DA also insists that freight rail lines should be opened to private operators to increase capacity and lower transport costs, while passenger rail services should be devolved to capable provinces with a clear implementation timeline.
The party also stressed the need to eliminate wasteful expenditure while protecting essential services.
It further called for meaningful reforms to be incorporated into the 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement and the 2026/27 Budget.
Burke said the government must adopt a binding fiscal rule to prevent reckless spending and ensure a sustainable debt-to-GDP ratio.
He also stressed that state-owned enterprise bailouts must come to an end, arguing that failing SOEs had driven excessive borrowing, crowding out critical investment in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
“It’s time for them to stand on their own, face privatization, or shut down if they are not viable,” Burke said.
He urged the Finance Minister to use this budget to accelerate economic reforms.
“The DA will fight against any tax increases and push for a budget that prioritizes sustainable growth and financial responsibility,” he said.
INSIDE POLITICS
