Mbalula denies ANC sought to influence Budget speech

By Simon Nare

Ahead of the much-anticipated Budget speech on Wednesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has admitted that the party has met Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to discuss budgetary matters.

However, he categorically denied reports that the party tried to influence the final draft of the Budget speech.

This follows Business Day newspaper reporting on Monday that Godongwana was summoned to the party’s headquarters to meet national officials to lobby for their support to approve the final Budget.

Addressing reporters at the conclusion of the party’s national working committee (NWC) visit to the Free State, Mbalula confirmed that the ANC met Godongwana to discuss the Budget to get a report as this was a political hot potato.

“Yes, we met, and we discussed the Budget and that’s it. As a political party, we exist for that. We need to get a briefing from our deployees and we discussed the matter