Godongwana tells DA to table policy proposals in Cabinet
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana rejected DA claims that ANC policies stifle growth during a mid-term budget debate in Parliament on Friday. He said the DA cannot be in the Government of National Unity (GNU) when things are good and outside it when they are bad.
DA MP Andrew Bateman said ANC policies such as black economic empowerment and expropriation do not attract investment. He claimed the GNU was forced to go along with them. He also named high corporate taxes and rigid labour laws as policies that affect investment.
Godongwana said the DA prefers to complain on the streets rather than table alternative proposals. He said it must bring its policy proposals to Cabinet. "What we have seen with the DA is to raise policy issues in the streets and not in the cluster meetings, and that is not useful and helpful."
ActionSA MP Alan Beesley claimed the GNU is to blame for operational inefficiencies at Durban harbour, which he said hurt the economy. Treasury said the fiscal discipline of recent years is paying off and that it has laid foundations for faster growth.
Treasury revised its growth forecast for 2026/27 down to 1.2 per cent. The February forecast was 1.6 per cent.
Key facts
- Who
- Enoch Godongwana (Finance Minister); Andrew Bateman (DA MP); Alan Beesley (ActionSA MP); Democratic Alliance (opposition party in the Government of National Unity)
- What
- Godongwana responded to DA MP Andrew Bateman's criticism that ANC policies such as black economic empowerment and expropriation deter investment, saying the DA cannot be in the GNU when things are good and outside it when they are bad, and must table policy proposals in Cabinet. Finance committee MPs also debated the mid-term budget in Parliament.
- When
- 23 October 2026
- Where
- Parliament, South Africa
- Status
- Reported