Godongwana invites SA to share budget suggestion ahead of 2025 speech

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The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, has invited South Africans to submit their suggestions on how the country’s budget should be spent ahead of the 2025 National Budget Speech, which will be delivered in February.

The Budget Speech is one of the most important moments in the government’s financial calendar, as it outlines how the country’s limited resources will be divided among different sectors, from healthcare to education to infrastructure development.

SO, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE BUDGET, AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU?

The budget is essentially a plan on how the government will spend its money over the next year.

Think of it as a pie: the national budget is the whole pie, and different sectors—such as health, education, energy, and social services—will each need a slice of this pie. Each sector needs funding to deliver its services and meet the needs of the people. The challenge, however, is that there is only so much of pie to go around (the country’s fiscus), and the government has to decide how big a slice each sectors gets based on priorities.

BUDGET ALLOCATING: A BALANCING ACT

South Africa’s fiscal situation is a balancing act. The country is facing significant challenges, such as a large budget deficit (where the government spends more money than it receives in revenue), struggling state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and the need to fund energy solutions.

These issues, combined with the necessity to grow the economy and support the poorer sectors of the populations, make the budget allocations especially crucial.

HE WANTS TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK

Minister Godongwana is calling on South Africans to take part in this process and contribute their views on how the country’s finances should be managed.

Citizens are encouraged to submit suggestions on several key issues, including:

Government spending priorities: With limited funds, where should the government allocate resources to best support the population’s needs? This could involve funding for healthcare, education, or social grants.

Addressing the budget deficit: The government is currently facing a budget shortfall, which means spending exceeds income. Suggestions on how to reduce this shortfall and ensure long-term financial stability are welcome.

State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs): SOEs, such as Eskom, have been under financial strain. Ideas on how to stabilise and improve these entities’ finances are critical to the budget discussions.

Energy funding solutions: With blackouts still affecting many South Africans (in the form of load reduction), energy funding is a major concern. The government is looking for ways to secure reliable and sustainable energy sources.

Tax revenues: Increasing revenue through taxes is another important aspect of the budget. Suggestions on how the tax system can be improved, or how government can collect taxes more effectively, are welcome.

Debt sustainability: South Africa is managing a large national debt, and it is essential to maintain debt sustainability while avoiding more and more borrowing from other nations.

Municipal finances: Local government finances are also under pressure, and ideas on how to improve municipal budgets and spending are a priority.

These are just some of the topics South Africans can provide feedback on. The Minister is keen to hear from people across the country on these issues, ensuring that the final budget reflects the needs and priorities of the people.

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

Submitting your thoughts is simple. Contributions should be concise—no more than 300 words—and can be sent via the 2025 Budget Tips link on the National Treasury’s website. You can also share your ideas on social media platforms, tagging the National Treasury using the hashtags #TipsForMinFin and #Budget2025. The Treasury’s social media handles are:

X (formerly Twitter) – @Treasury_RSA

LinkedIn – National Treasury RSA

TikTok – @TreasuryRSA

Facebook – National Treasury RSA