
Fiscal framework and revenue proposals scrutinised by NA and NCOP
PARLIAMENT - Budget 3.0 looks set to pass through parliament.
MPs from the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces voted in favour of the 2025 Fiscal Frameworks and Revenue Proposals on Wednesday.
READ: Budget 3.0 | Fiscal framework up for debate
These outline economic policy and must be passed before any budget bills.
The first budget speech was not presented by the minister following an uproar in cabinet about a planned 2% VAT Hike.
The second budget presented a more moderate VAT hike but members of the GNU voted against it.
Senior research associate from the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, Andrew Donaldson unpacked the new budget with eNCA.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
uMkhonto WeSizwe Party announces new MPs, excludes Floyd Shivambu
New Members of Parliament sworn in by uMkhonto WeSizwe, but Floyd Shivambu left out Image: Tumi Pakkies The uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) Party has officially announced the nomination and swearing of nine new Members of Parliament (MPs) to the National Assembly to fill vacant seats, but excluded former secretary general Floyd Shivambu. On Saturday, Colleen Makhubele, the MK Party's chief whip, announced that the new members will be sworn in on Wednesday in the Speaker's Boardroom in the Parliament of South Africa. The incoming MPs are Mr Lungisani Graduate Shangase, Mr Jeffrey Bhekumndeni Mtolo, Mr Zibuse Khayelihle Abednego Cele, Mr Siphetho Witness Mkhize, Ms Philisande Mkhize, Mr Gift Motaung, Ms Noma Buthelezi, Ms Ntandoyenkosi Nkosentsha Shezi, and Ms Khanyisile Litchfield According to the MK party, these individuals bring diverse experience and dedication, poised to bolster the party's efforts to serve South Africans and uphold the core values of democracy, equality, and justice. Makhubele said the party is committed to effective representation and pursuing policies that benefit all citizens. "These new members exemplify our commitment to building a better future for South Africa. We look forward to working with them as we continue to advocate for the rights and interests of our people," she said. Meanwhile, Shivambu, who was demoted as party secretary general and promised a seat as an MP, has taken a different path. On Thursday, Shivambu held a press briefing revealing plans to initiate a nationwide consultation with various church leaders and community stakeholders. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He indicated that this process aims to determine whether to establish a new political party, independent of the MK party. This move follows recent reports by IOL of the MK Party's decision to exclude Shivambu from its parliamentary list, a move that Shivambu criticised publicly. In removing Shivambu from his position as the party's SG, the MK party cited Shivambu's unauthorised visit to Prophet Shepherd Bushiri in Malawi as a breach of party protocol. However, Shivambu dismissed the party's reasons, claiming he was demoted because he had questioned the embezzlement of R7 million from the party's funds. 'I was redeployed for daring to speak out against corruption within the party. Despite this, I remain committed to serving the people and will not leave the MK party.' 'I am exploring the possibility of forming a new political entity that reflects our shared values," Shivambu stated during the briefing. He further indicated that he would proceed with the potential formation of a new political platform, emphasising that his actions are motivated by a desire to promote transparency and accountability in South African politics.

IOL News
16 hours ago
- IOL News
Will SA bear the cost of Eskom's R257bn air quality compliance?
Cooling towers at an Eskom coal-based power station in Duhva. Image: Mike Hutchings/Reuters SOUTH Africa's electricity crisis is about to get worse, not just because of load shedding, but because of the staggering cost of cleaning up Eskom's toxic air pollution. In a tense engagement with the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources, Eskom executives dropped a bombshell: full compliance with stricter air quality laws would cost R257 billion in capital expenditure and R6.3bn per year in operational costs — potentially hiking electricity tariffs by 10%. Even more alarming? Without compliance, 22 gigawatts of Eskom's coal fleet — nearly half its capacity — could be forcibly shut down after 2030 due to sulphur dioxide violations. The revelations came as Eskom's chief executive, Dan Marokane, and Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Mare, faced tough questions from MPs over the utility's financial constraints, its slow transition to cleaner energy, and the devastating health impacts of coal pollution on communities. Eskom has already spent R3bn on emission reduction projects, with another R15.6bn allocated over the next five years. But this is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Marokane admitted that while Eskom currently met SO² and nitrogen oxide limits, post-2030 regulations present an existential threat. The utility's proposed 'compromise' solution — focusing on SO² reductions at Kusile and Medupi, along with particulate matter upgrades at six other stations — would still require R77bn in capital and R2.1bn per year in operational costs. But even this plan is in jeopardy. Only R15.6bn has been budgeted for emissions projects over the next five years — far short of what's needed. Perhaps the most damning admission came from Deidre Herbst, Eskom's Senior Manager for Environment, who revealed that retrofitting the aging coal fleet for full compliance could take up to 14 years and more than R257bn — only for many of these plants to be decommissioned shortly afterward. 'Given the time frames, refitting most plants would be imprudent, constituting fruitless and wasteful expenditure,' Herbst said. Several power stations — Matla, Duvha, and Kriel — will shut down before flue-gas desulfurisation (FGD) plants can even be installed. Others, such as Lethabo, Tutuka, Matimba, and Kendal, will close shortly after FGD completion. 'Majuba and Matimba are in sparsely populated areas, limiting the health impact and cost benefit,' Herbst said — an utterance that drew sharp criticism from MPs who accused Eskom of downplaying the health risks to rural communities. MPs did not hold back in their criticism. DA MP Nico Pienaar demanded answers on why R40bn was being spent on diesel generation — money that could instead fund FGD plants. 'What happens if the new FGD plant isn't built and diesel turbines aren't closed, as per the World Bank agreement?' he asked. The DA's Sune Boshoff was even more scathing: 'Gauteng looks terrible when the wind blows. Is Eskom not wasting money on upgrading structures that won't exist much longer?' She slammed the projected 10% tariff hike to fund compliance, asking why alternative technologies and international funding were not being aggressively pursued. The EFF's Moses Kennedy pressed Eskom on whether independent health impact assessments had been conducted near Kendal, Matla, and Duvha stations, where residents suffer from chronic respiratory illnesses. Herbst admitted that while health benefits from cleaner stoves had been studied, power station health assessments were still lacking. Eskom's much-touted Just Energy Transition (JET) also came under fire. The state-owned utility's air quality offset programme — meant to provide cleaner energy alternatives to 96 000 households in Mpumalanga — has reached only 5 500 homes so far. Herbst claimed the rollout would accelerate, but MPs remained sceptical. Meanwhile, Northern Cape representatives Henri van den Berg (FF+) and Patricia Mabilo (ANC) pushed for green hydrogen and ammonia projects, arguing that they could create jobs. Deputy Minister Graham-Mare revealed that the EU had pledged €7bn for energy transition projects, including aviation sector decarbonisation. But with coal-dependent regions such as Mpumalanga facing massive job losses, MPs questioned whether the transition was truly 'just'. Marokane hinted at a controversial solution: nuclear energy. 'Most countries are building nuclear,' he said, suggesting that South Africa's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) should reconsider its stance. 'Nuclear stimulates economies and industrialisation.' Yet, with Eskom's finances in shambles and R50bn earmarked for new technologies — including a Medupi FGD plant — the feasibility of nuclear expansion remained doubtful. Eskom's dilemma is clear: Spend R257 billion to comply with air quality laws, raising tariffs by 10%. Risk 22 GW of shutdowns if they don't comply, plunging SA into darkness. Face public outrage over health impacts and job losses in coal regions. As Deputy Minister Graham-Mare admitted, 'This is about balancing interests with limited resources.' But for millions of South Africans choking on coal pollution and struggling with soaring electricity costs, that balance feels dangerously skewed. The question remains: Will Eskom clean up its act—or will South Africans pay the price for its failure? Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.


Mail & Guardian
2 days ago
- Mail & Guardian
One-year-old GNU brings stability, but fails on other metrics
No goal: ActionSA, which chose to remain outside the government of national unity, gave a damning evaluation of the GNU. Photo: @Presidency/ZA/X Observers say the government of national unity has kept parties such as the EFF and MK in check, but jobs, growth and reform remain elusive This content is restricted to subscribers only . Join the M&G Community Our commitment at the Mail & Guardian is to ensure every reader enjoys the finest experience. Join the M&G community and support us in delivering in-depth news to you consistently. Subscription enables: - M&G community membership - independent journalism - access to all premium articles & features - a digital version of the weekly newspaper - invites to subscriber-only events - the opportunity to test new online features first Already a subscriber?