MK Party Tables a Motion of No Confidence Against Enoch Godongwana

• The MK Party has filed a motion of no confidence against finance minister Enoch Godongwana as calls for his resignation mount
• This was after Godongwana announced that the Value-Added Tax increase that was to be implemented in 1 May was scrapped
• South Africans discussed the MKP's motion of no confidence, and some disagreed with the party

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist in Johannesburg, South Africa, has covered policy changes, cabinet reshuffles, the State of the Nation Address, Parliament and Parliamentary committees, politician-related news and elections at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News for over seven years.

JOHANNESBURG — The MK Party has on 25 April 2025 filed a motion of no confidence against Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana after he announced that the planned Value-Added Tax (VAT) increase would be scrapped.

What did the MKP say about Enoch Godongwana?

The official opposition posted on its @MkhontoweSizwex X account that it filed the motion because of Godongwana's failure to provide clarity and leadership on the VAT issue. The party said Godongwana's decision to ignore advice to introduce wealth taxes and raise luxury consumption taxes demonstrated his negligence towards the government's National Development Plan goals for job creation and economic productivity.

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Enoch Godongwana stands firm, Finance Minister won't resign despite criticism over budget saga

"The Finance Ministry cannot be entrusted to an individual and his GNU deputies, who demonstrate such disregard for progressive fiscal alternatives that ought to address the socioeconomic realities faced by our people. The Minister's contradictory public statements, lack of transparency and evident disconnection from the lived experiences of the majority have rendered his continued presence in Cabinet untenable," the party said.

Read the X statement here:

What you need to know about the VAT increase

• ActionSA accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of using the budget speech for political gain
• The DA celebrated the VAT hike reversal and said its court challenge against the VAT increase played a part in the reversal
• Controversial radio presenter Gareth Cliff accused politicians who were in favour of the VAT increase of extortion
• Godongwana insisted that he would not resign from his post after political parties including the Economic Freedom Fighters called for him to step down
• UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis posted a meme in response to Godongwana's decision to reverse the VAT increase

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Fikile Mbalula surprised DA is still part of GNU, unhappy with the party's continued objections

What did netizens say?

South Africans doubted that it was possible to table a motion of no confidence against a minister.

Ke Tsotsoni asked:

"How is that going to happen because Godongwana wasn't deployed by Parliament?"

Oarabile Tshwagong said:

"Floyd Shivambu, you have been in Parliament for over 10 years. Why don't you tell your MPs that it is impossible to have a motion of no confidence on individual ministers? A motion of no confidence can only apply to the president or the cabinet as a whole, not just one minister."

MrReliable said:

"You're going for a confidence motion just for formality and bragging rights. You guys did not even try to lobby for the support of this motion. Just a waste of time!"

Mr 232hz asked:

"Did you even read the rule book?"

Ramskin Baloyi said:

"Ministers are not appointed by Parliament but serve as appointed by the President. Maybe the President will have to consult with Cabinet when reshuffling his Cabinet."

Read also

Democratic Alliance celebrates VAT hike reversal, political parties maintain it wasn't DA alone

Survey reveals political parties gained from VAT saga

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the Institute of Race Relations revealed that political parties including the DA, MKP and the EFF benefitted from the VAT saga. A poll the institute released showed that public perception improved for the parties.

The poll also showed that perceptions about the African National Congress changed after the VAT increase was tabled during the budget speech. Most of the respondents said that they would vote for the DA if an election would be held now.

Source: Briefly News