South Africa’s Leading Parties Remain at Odds Over Budget

South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) have yet to settle their differences over the national budget as the debate in a key parliamentary committee looms. With discussions dragging on as of early April 2025, the DA insists on a written deal that would secure greater policy influence, while the ANC maintains it has secured enough support to push the budget through the initial stage.

Recent reports from Reuters and Eyewitness News detail mounting frustrations on both sides. The DA has warned it will oppose the budget without a formal agreement, a stance echoed by leader John Steenhuisen, who expressed his discontent with the ANC’s reluctance to commit. Meanwhile, the government is preparing for full parliamentary deliberations that could alter the fiscal framework, potentially affecting key policy reforms and economic stability in South Africa.