The African National Congress (ANC) has mentioned that discussions with political parties surrounding the National Budget impasse are “going smoothly” and are likely to bring positive results, the party’s scretary-general Fikile Mbalula said on Thursday.

“Political parties are cooperating, and we are engaging. By next week, we will have a roadmap with a way forward on the budget,” Mbalula said during a media briefing held in Sandton.

“At the present moment, we are sailing very nicely, and there has not been anything that seeks to suggest that we may end up with mayhem.”

This comes as the ANC, which leads the Government of National Unity (GNU), continues meetings with both GNU partners and opposition parties, to resolve disputes over the 2025 National Budget.

The budget, which includes the controversial 0.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) increase, has faced sharp opposition from some parties.

On Monday, IOL News reported that the ANC has decided to “press the reset button” on the GNU and open talks with additional parties.

This followed the DA and FF+, both part of the GNU, voting against the budget fiscal framework.

The ANC has since met with parties outside the GNU, including Build One South Africa (BOSA) and ActionSA, both of which supported the fiscal framework.

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