VAT, Budgets & Battles: Unpacking South Africa’s Fiscal Tug of War

Loading player...
With the court now pausing the VAT hike in South Africa, where will the money come from to plug the budget deficit? What happens to the two key bills the minister tabled alongside the framework? And what does this mean for you and your pocket?

Phumi Mashigo breaks this down with Tara Roos, a sharp, young policy mind in Parliament as a researcher for various portfolio committees, founder of the Participation Project and So We Vote on IG, former UNESCO Youth Ambassador, and someone who’s had a seat at the table on global youth and climate policy.

Together they unpack the fiscal framework: what it really is, what Parliament actually voted on, and how it links to the controversial VAT proposal. They also examine the impact on social spending — including a potentially vulnerable SASSA grant. Is this a win for the public, or just a reshuffling of the same pressures under a different name? Join the conversation as they cut through the spin and follow the money!
1 May 2025 English South Africa Politics · News

Other recent episodes

What Would Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Want Us to Remember Today?

How do the descendants of South Africa’s most famous freedom fighters understand freedom in today's world? Phumi Mashigo speaks with Princesses Swati Mandela-Dlamini and Zaziwe Manaway, two of Nelson and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s granddaughters about the deeply personal stories behind their new Netflix documentary. Serving as co-producers of the Netflix documentary…
4 Jun 52 min

Survival or strategy? SA’s informal economy

South Africa's informal economy is everywhere - from taxi ranks and pavement stalls to township salons and spaza shops. But is it simply a response to unemployment and inequality, or is it becoming the country's real engine of growth and innovation? Justice Malala leads an expert panel for a provocative…
28 May 1 hr 11 min

Can the Constitution Still Save South Africa?

What happens when one of the world’s most progressive constitutions collides with corruption, inequality and political dysfunction? In this week’s episode, Phumi Mashigo explores whether South Africa’s democracy is being protected, or slowly weakened, and why the Constitution still matters now more than ever. She is joined by human rights…
21 May 27 min

From "New Dawn” to Political Crossroads

Did South Africans buy into hope, only to end up confronting more political disappointment? Phumi Mashigo dives into President Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala fallout, the ANC’s growing credibility crisis, and the debate over whether Cyril Ramaphosa is a consensus builder - or simply too passive for the moment South Africa finds…
14 May 48 min

Can the gap between education policy and delivery finally be closed?

Following our previous education discussion, a clearer picture begins to emerge: one defined not just by underperformance, but by mounting pressure. Demand is rising faster than capacity, and while the state continues to expand its role, it’s increasingly doing so through partnerships that sit adjacent to the system itself. So…
7 May 40 min