Dr. Wonderboy Mahlatsi, president of the United Africans Transformation (UAT), has strongly criticized South Africa’s 2026 national budget, arguing that it does not deliver meaningful economic relief or stimulus for ordinary citizens, particularly the poorest and working-class communities.
In response to the budget presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, which included increases to fuel levies and adjustments to social grants, Dr. Mahlatsi described the measures as failing to address the lived realities of most South Africans. He rejected claims of an economic turnaround, stating that any perceived improvements are not felt by the poor and working class.
Dr. Mahlatsi highlighted the increase in petrol and diesel prices through higher fuel levies as a direct burden on vulnerable households. “An increase in petrol and diesel, it’s an attack on the poorest and the middle class,” he said, emphasizing that these changes exacerbate financial pressures on those already struggling.
He also pointed to the modest increase in social grants, noting that the largest adjustment was around 9%. According to Dr. Mahlatsi, this limited rise offers little help for essentials like nutrition, particularly for older people and other grant recipients. “There’s no chance for the older people to buy nutrition and other stuff,” he remarked.
The UAT leader further accused the government of not taking hunger seriously, criticizing the allocation of funds for what he called “future occurrences” instead of immediate aid to hungry households. “Our people are hungry. Take the money and show that the resources reach the poor households,” he urged. He added that many South Africans remain “learnless” — a term he used to describe a lack of learning opportunities or broader deprivation — amid ongoing hardship.
Dr. Mahlatsi’s comments come as the 2026 budget features fuel levy hikes — including 9 cents per litre on petrol and 8 cents on diesel for the general fuel levy, alongside increases in the carbon fuel levy and Road Accident Fund levy — while social grants such as the old-age, disability, and care dependency grants rise to R2,400 per month from April 2026, an increase of R80.
Despite these adjustments aimed at supporting vulnerable groups and maintaining fiscal balance, Dr. Mahlatsi maintained that the overall approach falls short of stimulating genuine growth or alleviating poverty effectively. He reiterated his position: “The answer is no.”