THE Western Cape government says the postponement of Wednesday's Budget Speech has resulted in the delay of delivering its own Budget scheduled for March 6.
“The Western Cape has already undertaken extensive work in preparing our budget - guided by ongoing engagement with the National Treasury as part of the intergovernmental budgetary process. However, in light of the announcement of the national postponement, the Western Cape’s budget, originally planned for 6 March 2025, will also be delayed,” said Western Finance MEC Deidré Baartman.
The postponement came after internal divisions within the Government of National Unity over the proposed 2% increase to the Value Added Tax (Vat), with some parties saying such a decision would mostly affect the poor. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has since announced that he would now deliver the budget on March 12.
Baartman said the date of the tabling of the Provincial Budget will be determined by the timeframes set out by National Treasury and the National Government.
“However, as is customary, the Western Cape will ensure that its budget is tabled within two weeks of the national budget.”
Baartman said the Western Cape faced significant budgetary pressures especially as it relates to the core services of health, education and social development.
“However, our position remains clear that addressing these challenges should be achieved through fast-tracking economic growth reforms, cutting wasteful expenditure, and reprioritising spending - not through a VAT increase,” she said.