Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana: 2026 Budget Speech

Honourable Speaker, Thoko Didiza

Deputy Speaker, Annelie Lotriet

His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa

Honourable Deputy President Paul Mashatile

Cabinet Colleagues

The Budget Council

The Budget Forum

Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago

Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, Edward...

Reforms introduced to improve local government

Government has announced strengthened measures to improve the operations and financial management of local and provincial government, marking a shift to structural intervention from oversight.

“At the municipal level, this shift involves changes to legislation, governance arrangements, and technological intervention. In provinces, the...

2026 Budget Speech a ‘turning point’ – Godongwana

The country’s financial future was on the agenda on Wednesday when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the 2026 Budget Speech in Parliament.Godongwana noted that this year’s Budget Speech comes at a critical juncture for the public purse.“We have reached an important turning point in the management of our public...

HIV/Aids research funding bolstered

Government will allocate some R410 million over the medium term to offset the funding gap in research left after the withdrawal of funding by the United States.

This according to the National Treasury’s 2026 Budget Review released alongside the Budget Speech on Wednesday.

“Over the medium term, R410 million will be reprioritised from the...

Social grants to increase

All social grants, barring the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, will increase in the next financial year.

This is according to the 2026 Budget Review released by National Treasury on Wednesday.

The grant increases are as follows:

Old age grant will increase from R2 315 to R2 400.War veterans grant will increase from R2 335 to R2...

R12 billion in savings identified through TARS programme

National Treasury’s Targeted and Responsible Savings (TARS) programme has identified some R12 billion in wasteful and ineffective programs within government.This according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana who delivered the 2026 Budget Speech in Parliament on Wednesday.“[In] the Budget last May, we promised that...

Infrastructure remains the ‘bedrock’ of SA economic growth

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has reiterated government’s commitment to making infrastructure investment the bedrock of the country’s growing economy.

The Minister tabled the 2026 Budget Speech in Parliament on Wednesday.

“Infrastructure investment remains the foundation upon which long-term economic growth, improved...

Crime fighting receives major boost

Government has allocated R848.2 billion over the medium term to combat crime and ensure territorial integrity. 

This is in line with the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the State of the Nation Address on the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) alongside the police to fight illegal mining and...

Optimism remains as economy starts showing steady growth

South Africa’s economic growth outlook is “steadily improving”, with growth projected to reach some 1.6% in 2026, following growth of 1.4% in 2025.

This is according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who delivered the 2026 Budget Speech in Parliament on Wednesday.

“We project real economic growth of 1.6% in 2026, an...

Proposed VAT increase officially withdrawn

Government has officially withdrawn the R20 billion tax increase for Value Added Tax (VAT) that was previously penciled in for the 2026 Budget, to provide inflationary relief to taxpayers.Tabling the 2026 Budget in Parliament on Wednesday, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana explained that the withdrawal was due to the tax system...

Check-in systems operational at Cape Town International Airport, except for Lift Airlines

Cape Town International Airport is continuing with recovery efforts following yesterday’s fire incident, says Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

A fire broke out on its premises on Tuesday, which has led to international departures being suspended for a period. According to media reports,...

Steenhuisen to kickstart nationwide mass vaccination against FMD

Agriculture Minister, John Steenhuisen, will this Friday officially kickstart the nationwide mass vaccination rollout against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in KwaZulu-Natal.

The high-priority intervention follows the arrival of one million high-potency vaccine doses from Biogénesis Bagó, Argentina, on Saturday.

“As...

Land bills to speed up transformation

Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has acknowledged that while South Africa has recorded notable successes in land reform since 1994, progress has been slower than anticipated.

The Minister was addressing the second International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD+20), currently underway in...

Tolashe calls for bold digital action to accelerate youth employment

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has called for bold digital action to accelerate youth employment, urging delegates at the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Social Sector Conference to respond decisively to the country’s unemployment crisis.Addressing more than 300 delegates gathered in Durban on...

Land reform central to social and economic development- Nyhontso

Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Mzwanele Nyhontso has maintained that there will never be any compromise on the question of land, describing it as central to the ongoing struggle for genuine social and economic development, and the restoration of dignity to millions of people.Addressing delegates at the...

Suspect linked to rhino poaching to appear in court today

A 52-year-old suspect linked to rhino poaching will today appear before the Bellville Magistrate Court.

The suspect, who was about to board a flight to Singapore with his family, was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) Western Cape, which assisted in executing the arrest warrant, as issued by...

Police, the Hawks and multiple units raided a plush home in Chatsworth, arresting five suspects after uncovering what authorities believe is part of a major drug distribution network.