POWER CHAT | Ferial Haffajee speaks to Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen about the Budget — and the GNU — after talks collapsed
Episode description
As negotiations between the ANC and DA over the national budget dragged into the early hours of April 1, 2025, no agreement was reached—deepening the ongoing deadlock within the Government of National Unity (GNU). Just days before, Ferial Haffajee sat down with Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen to unpack the key issues surrounding the Budget and the GNU. Here’s an excerpt from their conversation.
00:49 Challenges Facing the GNU
02:10 Economic Policy and Taxation Issues
04:04 Energy and Infrastructure Concerns
06:51 Implementation and Bureaucratic Hurdles
12:44 Coalition Dynamics and Political Realities
16:24 Personal Insights and Relationships
22:15 International Relations and Economic Strategy
25:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Produced by: Emilie Gambade & Bernard Kotze
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