Pretoria: The National Treasury is set to host an engagement session focusing on fiscal policy with various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, businesses, professionals, and interested citizens, to delve into discussions on government spending.

According to South African Government News Agency, South Africa is currently facing challenges such as low economic growth, high debt, and competing funding demands. The government aims to address these issues by collaborating with the community to foster a shared understanding of the fiscal realities and seek innovative solutions to enhance fiscal sustainability.

This engagement follows the Cabinet's endorsement of the 2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Technical Guidelines, which detail key reforms to clarify trade-offs, reduce waste, and prioritize high-impact programs. The guidelines also outline the economic environment under which the 2026 MTEF is formulated and incorporate lessons learned from the 2025 budget cycle.

Scheduled for 22 August 2025 at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the event intends to provide an overview of the country's macro-fiscal situation and the government's strategic choices. Discussions will focus on managing budget constraints, executing policy ambitions amidst low economic growth and high debt, and creating collective ownership of sustainable public finances and high-quality services.

Due to limited capacity, the venue will accommodate only 100 participants on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration for in-person attendance is available through a specified link, and a virtual attendance option will be provided if capacity is reached. Additionally, stakeholders are invited to submit written contributions of up to three pages by 30 August 2025, with selected contributors potentially presenting their ideas during a panel session.