The 2025 VAT saga was one of the most chaotic chapters in South Africas recent fiscal history. It began as an aggressive government plan to fix a massive budget deficit, but the resulting public outcry and economic pressure led to a dramatic U-turn. This shift marked a turning point, moving the national narrative away from a state of perpetual crisis toward a period of cautious optimism. Thabiso Tema spoke to Xhanti Payi Economist.