South Africa’s Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, is preparing to table the 2026 Budget Speech, his second under the Government of National Unity, at a pivotal moment for the country’s economy. Tough fiscal decisions are expected to dominate the address as the government grapples with slow economic growth, rising public debt and increasing social pressures.

Last year’s budget sparked intense debate, with opposition parties rejecting the proposed VAT increases and civil‑society groups voicing serious concerns about the impact on already‑strained households. Now, the key question is whether the Minister can strike the right balance between fiscal discipline, political consensus and the urgent needs of South Africans.
Channel Africa’s economics reporter, Innocent Semosa, has more.