POWER CHAT | Ferial Haffajee speaks to Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen about the Budget — and the GNU — after talks collapsed

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 GNU02:10 Economic Policy and Taxation Issues04:04 Energy and Infrastructure Concerns06:51 Implementation and Bureaucratic Hurdles12:44 Coalition Dynamics and Political Realities16:24 Personal Insights and Relationships22:15 International Relations and Economic Strategy25:46 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsProduced by: Emilie Gambade & Bernard KotzeSupport journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/ Support journalism that protects democracy. Become a Maverick Insider. https://tinyurl.com/SupportDailyMaverickSubscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DailyMaverickSA/videos Follow us on X : https://x.com/dailymaverick Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailymaverick Check our website: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dailymaverick/ Check out our TikTok page: https://www.tiktok.com/@dailymavericksa Download Daily Maverick Mobile App: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/daily-maverick-app/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.