logo
Kleinfontein board appreciates engagement with MK Party despite differences in opinion

Kleinfontein board appreciates engagement with MK Party despite differences in opinion

Eyewitness News21-04-2025

The MK Party says it suspects the settlement is abusing section 235 of the constitution, which allows for self-determination for communities of shared common cultural and language heritage.
Chairperson of the Kleinfontein board of directors Rian Genis said while they hold differing opinions with the MK party, they appreciate the visit.
"What I really appreciate is that they visited us, spoke to us, listened to us, heard what we had to say, and we feel that positive. There's a lot of noise in the media and a lot of aggressive noise from the side of the eff and MK party towards Afrikaners in general and our communities and we appreciate a dialogue because that's the way we take this forward.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Godongwana urges MPs to ensure proper expenditure of R1 trillion infrastructure budget
Godongwana urges MPs to ensure proper expenditure of R1 trillion infrastructure budget

IOL News

time5 hours ago

  • IOL News

Godongwana urges MPs to ensure proper expenditure of R1 trillion infrastructure budget

The report on the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals easily garnered the majority vote from the Government of National Unity partners and other smaller parties. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Tuesday challenged parliamentarians to ensure that the R1 trillion allocated for infrastructure in the 2025/26 budget was spent efficiently and effectively. Speaking moments before the vote on the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals and report of the standing committee on finance, Godongwana said he has discharged his responsibility. 'MPs have to make sure that this R1 trillion on infrastructure is spent effectively and efficiently,' he said. His comment was a sequel to the remarks by National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams who sympathised with Godongwana after he was asked 'to pull off a miracle with nothing in revising the budget'. 'That should be the concern of these members … If not spent properly, that is your duty as MPs to do oversight,' he said. The report on the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals was tabled in Parliament for the third time. On Wednesday, the report garnered the majority vote from the Government of National Unity (GNU) partners and other smaller parties. The report was passed with 268 votes in favour, 68 MPs, from the MK Party, EFF and United African Transformation were in opposition and two abstained. Godongwana, who had to redraft the budget and scrap initially proposed VAT increases, said it was a painful journey to have the budget adopted. 'From the National Treasury's perspective, we drew a number of lessons, but I suspect also members of this House must draw a number of lessons as to how we in practice are to manage debate around the Fiscal Framework moving forward,' he said. The passage of the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals was despite the adjustment in the fuel levy, which was criticised by many during the debate. Tabling the report, ANC MP and standing committee on finance chairperson Joe Maswanganyi said Godongwana's third budget presentation underscored a steadfast commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency. Maswanganyi said the budget adoption process within a coalition government can be quite complex due to the multitude of interests involved as coalition partners often bring diverse priorities, ideologies, and agendas to the table, which can complicate consensus-building efforts. 'Anyone calling for the Minister's head for the budget delay, is out of tune with coalition government dynamics all over the world,' he said in veiled attack on the MK Party, whose motion to censure Godongwana failed on Tuesday. Maswanganyi said during the budget hearings, stakeholders had welcomed the withdrawal of the VAT increase and additional allocations to SARS. 'The stakeholders, however, raised concerns about the proposed adjustments to the fuel levy, the lack of adjustment to PIT (personal income tax) brackets, above-inflation increases in excise duties, the withdrawal of zero-rated food items and the National Treasury's failure to increase Social Relief of Distress grant allocations,' he said. DA spokesperson on finance Mark Burke said his party supported the Fiscal Framework because it reflected some critical breakthroughs for ordinary South Africans. 'This is not a moment for celebration, it is a moment to push even harder for real economic reform that streamlines government, creates jobs and delivers growth,' Burke said. He praised the DA's firm stance against the VAT hike, securing billions in infrastructure investment, a commitment to root out ghost workers and an urgent review of government spending. 'These represents real breakthroughs that protect both the poor and the economy, but they are not enough,' Burke said. MK Party's Des van Rooyen said the GNU has subjected the country to a high fuel levy increase. 'Fuel levy is the most regressive taxing system and far worse than VAT is,' he said. Van Rooyen also said the report refusing their proposal for the introduction of a wealth tax, confirmed that 'the so-called GNU was a platform to protect the wealthy few, using puppets'. The EFF'S Omphile Maotwe said her party rejected the Fiscal Framework that was supported by the GNU, which replaced VAT with 'the regressive fuel levy that will affect the poor and the working class and failed to adjust the personal income tax brackets in line with inflation'. 'The Minister of Finance has declared to increase fuel taxes without even bringing a bill to Parliament. This tax is already in effect. It is a violation of the basic constitutional principle that no tax be imposed without the authority of legislation,' she said. The ACDP's Steven Swart said they welcomed the removal of VAT but it was sadly replaced by the maligned fuel levy hike. 'We will support the report but will be closely monitoring it. We want to be builders, not breakers,' said Swart in backing the Fiscal Framework report. BOSA leader Mmusi Maimane, whose party abstained in the vote, said the obsession should be about the rate of investment brought into the country, saying the projected economic growth was far too low. 'I suggest that we be aggressively declaring economic zones and giving infrastructure support, digital connectivity, efficient public transport and ethical government,' he added.

Ramaphosa's National Dialogue to discuss divisions caused by Trump's Afrikaner resettlement project
Ramaphosa's National Dialogue to discuss divisions caused by Trump's Afrikaner resettlement project

IOL News

time7 hours ago

  • IOL News

Ramaphosa's National Dialogue to discuss divisions caused by Trump's Afrikaner resettlement project

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the National Dialogue will be held in August. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers President Cyril Ramaphosa's national dialogue to address the pressing issues in the country will address the divisions created by US President Donald Trump's offer of resettlement to white Afrikaners as well as issues on unemployment and poor governance. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa announced the appointment of an 'eminent persons group' made up of 31 prominent South Africans who will lead the National Dialogue, set to take place on 15 August 2025. The dialogue will also recent comments made by US President Donald Trump, who invited white Afrikaners to relocate to the US based on false claims of white genocide - an issue that has become a divisive factor in the country. One of the eminent persons, who requested anonymity, said the dialogue can be seen as a response to these concerns, aiming to address the country's challenges and promote national building. 'The issue should definitely come up, although everybody has a choice to leave the country…We are way beyond the colour lines now and should focus on nation building with the people who are in the country, instead of dwelling in the past. 'Sure, it's a bone of contention but we do have bigger problems," she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading However, not all are on board with Ramaphosa's dialogue initiative. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has rejected the dialogue as an "elitist farce," saying it is a "staged theatre for the political elite". In a statement on Wednesday, its spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela asked why there were no ordinary South Africans, such as shack dwellers, represented? 'We reject this dialogue as a tone-deaf charade engineered by a regime clinging to power, desperately trying to manufacture consent through elitist backroom dealings. 'The so-called Eminent Persons Group, handpicked by the very same ruling class responsible for mass unemployment, deepening poverty, collapsing infrastructure and the ongoing betrayal of the Freedom Charter, is a mockery of the suffering endured daily by millions of destitute and despondent South African,' Ndhlela wrote. The EFF has also expressed skepticism, questioning the government's motives and the selection process for the Eminent Persons Group. "The challenges Ramaphosa's National Dialogue seek to address are not a product of triumph of human sacrifice against evil, which require collective national reconstruction, but are a product of man-made destruction and corruption of which he and the party he leads have been at the centre of," the EFF said in a statement. The DA's national spokesperson, Willie Aucamp, welcomed the National Dialogue saying his party would embrace the opportunity. 'I think it's high time that we as a nation get together and discuss collectively what we see as a road forward for this country,' he said. Build One South Africa (BOSA) described the announcement as a positive and necessary step forward for the country at a time of great political uncertainty, public anxiety, and economic malaise. The GOOD Party's general secretary Brett Herron said it was long overdue as the wait had been frustrating. 'Nearly a year has passed since political parties signed the Statement of Intent of the Government of National Unity (GNU), which explicitly committed to convening a National Dialogue to tackle the country's deep and urgent delay in giving effect to this promise has been frustrating, but the time for talking has finally arrived, and it must now be time for action too,' Herron said.

MK Party to reject Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals when put to vote
MK Party to reject Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals when put to vote

Eyewitness News

time10 hours ago

  • Eyewitness News

MK Party to reject Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals when put to vote

CAPE TOWN - The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party said it will reject the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals when it is put to the vote in the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon. This will be the second time a fiscal framework to underpin the 2025 budget is put to the vote, after Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana tabled a new budget in the house three weeks ago. ALSO READ: - EFF says it will oppose Wednesday's adoption of fiscal framework and budget - Parliament to consider the fiscal framework and revenue proposals for the 2025 budget MK Party's finance spokesperson and Member of Parliament (MP), Des van Rooyen, said public input into the budget process is being ignored, and the fuel levy that came into effect last week will harm the poor. The MK Party has condemned the repeated attempts by the Finance Minister to table a budget, saying it's a betrayal of public trust and it contributes to socioeconomic instability. On Tuesday, a motion from the party to censure Godongwana for gross mismanagement failed, but Van Rooyen said it's not the end of the road. 'There are various processes that we will take advantage of to hold the minister accountable. Our comrades both in the Standing Committee on Appropriations and the Standing Committee on Finance will be using those platforms to hold the minister and the National Treasury accountable.' Van Rooyen said replacing a value-added tax (VAT) increase with a fuel levy increase shows a lack of empathy for the poor. 'This among other things exposes the GNU's [Government of National Unity] inability to respond to South Africa's humanitarian crisis of unemployment, poverty and inequality.' Van Rooyen said Godongwana's growth projections are also overly optimistic.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store