ANC welcomes Godongwana’s budget as balanced, people-centred
The ANC has welcomed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), describing it as a balanced plan that maintains priority spending on infrastructure, jobs, and social protection while reinforcing fiscal discipline.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the party said the MTBPS reflects government’s commitment to the promises made in its 2024 election manifesto to grow the economy, reduce the cost of living, and create work opportunities for South Africans.
"The ANC welcomes the fact that through the MTBPS, government maintains priority spending on public infrastructure and inclusive growth, and to eliminate corruption and wasteful expenditure,' said acting spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli.
The party commended allocations totalling R943 billion for infrastructure investment over the next three years — focusing on energy, roads, water and transport — saying these projects will stimulate industrialisation, job creation, and improved service delivery.
It also praised the continuation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which is expected to create two million job opportunities by 2026, and the expansion of the National Skills Fund to support youth placements in the digital and green economies.
"This budget demonstrates that under the leadership of the ANC, fiscal discipline and social justice can coexist, it shows that government is managing public finances responsibly while protecting the poor through social grants and public employment programmes."
The ANC also welcomed the introduction of the Procurement Payments Dashboard, which allows citizens to monitor government payments to suppliers, calling it a “decisive step toward transparency and accountability.”
It further celebrated South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force grey list, describing it as proof of the country’s progress in strengthening governance and financial integrity.
The party highlighted allocations to education (R310 billion) and health (R12 billion) as key investments in human development, alongside R18 billion for land reform, R17.5 billion for municipalities, and R58 billion for social protection.
The ANC said the narrowing of the budget deficit and stabilisation of debt below 74 per cent of GDP showed that government is managing its finances prudently while still advancing social transformation.
"Now is the time to move forward to achieve a better life for all. It is not the time for deadlock and delay,” Mhlauli added.
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