Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana steps up once more to the podium at Parliament, set to deliver what has become known as Budget 3.0 - a third attempt at tabling the Fiscal Policy Framework for 2025 after two failed starts and a mounting economic crisis. 

This year’s budget is more than just numbers, it’s a litmus test of South Africa’s political stability, fiscal discipline, and social priorities. 

Godongwana is under intense pressure following the reversal of a controversial 0.5% VAT hike, which was initially approved by Parliament but swiftly challenged in court by opposition parties, including the DA and the EFF. With that reversal, the Finance Minister now faces a staggering R75 billion hole in the national budget, a gap he must fill without further borrowing or triggering political backlash.