PRESS STATEMENT: SA budget delay - a call for self-determination amid economic crisis
The recent delay of the South African budget speech to March 12, 2025, due to disagreements among GNU partners, underscores the deep-seated issues plaguing our nation's fiscal policy. This delay is not merely a procedural hiccup but a glaring indicator of the government's inability to address South Africa's dire economic situation effectively.
The GNU's contemplated VAT increase would disproportionately burden the poor, further entrenching poverty and stifling consumer spending and economic growth. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), crucial for job creation, would face additional pressures, likely leading to closures and increased unemployment, which currently stands at a staggering 32%.
South Africa's economic landscape is bleak - with rampant corruption, high crime rates, and chronic service delivery failures like power and water shortages. Approximately 55.5% of our population lives below the poverty line, and our reliance on foreign aid and debt has only deepened with recent geopolitical shifts diminishing our international support.
The ANC-led GNU's persistence with anti-free market policies, which attack life, liberty, and private property, only exacerbates the crisis. Initiatives like the National Health Insurance (NHI) and the Black Business Fund, even if well-intentioned, are financed through unsustainable means, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio to perilous heights without fostering economic growth.
The DA's stance against any tax increase is commendable, but the GNU's requirement to sign off on the budget might still force through policies detrimental to our economic recovery. This scenario sadly illustrates that South Africa, under current governance, is choosing to remain poor.
For the Western Cape, where the majority has consistently voted against ANC policies, this budget debacle highlights the urgent need for self-determination. A referendum for Cape Independence could allow us to set our own priorities, protect our cultural values, and chart a path towards economic prosperity and governance that reflects our community's will.
We call upon all residents of the Western Cape to recognize that our future does not have to be dictated by national failures. We can, through self-determination, create an environment conducive to business, investment, and sustainable growth.
For enquiries, please contact:
Dr. Joan Swart
CIAG spokesperson
Email: joan@capeindependence.org
