Ramaphosa hails Budget approval as step toward inclusive growth, development

By Simon Nare

Despite widespread criticism and rejection by some political parties in Parliament, President Cyril Ramaphosa has hailed the 2025 budget as a tool that will address unemployment and alleviate poverty.

Writing in his weekly newsletter a week after the fiscal framework and revenue proposal won by a narrow margin in the National Assembly, Ramaphosa said the budget has laid the foundation to social spending.

The president said the budget was provided to drive development, eradicate poverty and narrow inequality.

“The 2025 Budget makes adjustments to allocations to municipalities to enable them to address their infrastructure needs, improve service delivery and improve their revenue collection systems.

“In a challenging economic environment – both locally and globally – this year’s Budget supports measures to drive growth and relieve the effects of poverty. At the same time, it aims to stabilise public finances and continue to reduce our national debt,” wrote