Mbalula says ongoing talks with all political parties helped avert instability over budget impasse [SOUND]

# ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula says the party has learnt important lessons in managing the budget under the new government of national unity. He welcomed the decision to cancel the planned VAT increase, citing it protects the poor. Mbalula told the media, the budget process is now more complex and political, but through intense negotiations with the National Treasury and other parties, common ground was reached: