Build One South Africa (BOSA) President Mmusi Maimane has welcomed certain aspects of the 2026 national budget tabled by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, but expressed strong concerns over spending priorities that he argues favor political elites over ordinary citizens and fail to adequately address poverty and economic growth.
In an interview following the budget presentation on February 25, 2026, Maimane highlighted the allocation of R1 billion to policing as a positive step. He described South Africa as a dangerous place and emphasized that improved safety is essential for broader progress.
However, Maimane questioned whether the budget sufficiently supports the poor, pointing to the stark contrast in allocations for security. He noted that while R1 billion has been directed toward general policing efforts—including through the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) fund to combat organized crime—approximately R4 billion is earmarked for VIP protection services, which safeguard politicians, ministers, and dignitaries.
“If you give money to VIP protection, 4 billion rand and only a billion to the police, you are already telling people that politicians are much more protected than the citizens,” Maimane said. He called for reallocating funds from VIP protection to bolster detectives, education in quintile 1, 2, and 3 schools (which serve the poorest communities), and other frontline services.
Maimane stressed that true poverty eradication requires robust economic growth to attract investment, rather than relying solely on infrastructure spending or support for small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). He urged that while the National Treasury manages fiscal responsibilities effectively, other government departments must also deliver on their mandates.
“National Treasury can do its job, but we need to make sure that all the other departments do their jobs,” he added.
The BOSA leader further emphasized the need to combat corruption, arguing that graft directly harms the poor. He referenced incidents like the looting at Tembisa Hospital, where stolen funds deprive vulnerable communities of access to healthcare and other essential services.
“Whilst you might invest in healthcare in various places, but when Tembisa occurs, the poor are the ones who are affected because money is stolen and then the poor can’t get healthcare,” Maimane explained.
Overall, Maimane described the budget as containing elements worth welcoming, such as the policing investment and signs of fiscal stabilization, but insisted that South Africa must prioritize citizen safety, education, and anti-corruption measures to create a meaningful economic growth story and improve living conditions for the most disadvantaged. He called for a fundamental shift in how resources are prioritized to ensure they benefit the broader population rather than a select few.