South Africa’s 2025 budget is a cautious step toward fiscal stability, with debt peaking at 76.2% of GDP in 2025-26 and a narrowing deficit. For employees, it offers short-term respite but lacks the ambition to transform lives.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the 2025 National Budget Speech on Wednesday (12 March). The budget addressed several key points, including the country’s current economic status, growth projections, substantial debt servicing costs, proposed increases in VAT and sin taxes, and the continuation of the social relief grant.

As South Africa awaits the 2025 Budget, Casey Sprake warns of key issues that could shape the nation’s future.

The 2025 budget proposals are out at last! The good news is that VAT is not going all the way up to 17% (yet), but individuals will feel the fiscal drag due to a lack of inflation-based adjustments. The first draft of the budget speech,

B udget announcements are rarely dramatic events in South Africa. But the statement on March 12th by Enoch Godongwana, the finance minister, could be the most consequential since the end of white rule in 1994.

Budget, tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday, 12 March, is good news for South African taxpayers.

Ordinary South Africans are walking away from the 2025 budget bruised and bloodied. Government not only proposed an increase in the value-added tax (Vat) rate, but their income tax burden has increased by R18 billion.

South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana may have to make changes to the national budget after parties that control more than half the seats in parliament rejected his plans to raise taxes.

South Africa's finance minister unveiled Wednesday a budget with a smaller increase in value-added tax than previously proposed, but the move was still rejected by trade unions who say any rise in taxes that will have a negative impact on the country’s poorest is unacceptable.