ActionSA says not much engagement with ANC since helping it pass budget 3.0
Thabiso Goba 21 May 2025 | 10:15 ActionSA
Budget Speech
Government of national unity (GNU)
ActionSA parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, during debate on the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on 11 February 2025. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA says it has not had much engagement with the African National Congress (ANC) since assisting it to pass the previous budget. ActionSA, which is not part of the Government of National Unity (GNU), voted with the ANC to pass the April budget, which was later set aside by the Western Cape High Court.
On Wednesday afternoon, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will make a third attempt to table a budget in Parliament.
READ: Budget 3.0 Godongwana's moment of truth
As the rain poured in Cape Town ahead of the budget speech, ActionSA seems to have been left out in the cold. The party's parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, said they only worked with the ANC to avert a crisis, not to enter the GNU. "We really don't care what it looks like, we have a government of national unity (GNU), they are going to use their majority to pass the budget and that's fine because they need to implement the budget, this is their baby and while they do that, they need to consider the massive unemployment programme in the country." Trollip said they were expecting more money to be allocated to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) so it can go after tax evaders.
He said government should also consider cutting the bloated GNU cabinet and its perks.
ALSO READ: ActionSA warns of doom in manufacturing industry, calls for speedy economic reforms
'We really don't care what it looks like,' Athol Trollip, ActionSA parliamentary leader on whether the party has been frozen out by the ANC now that there is consensus in the GNU over the budget. TCG pic.twitter.com/fc9q7pLChO — EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 21, 2025
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