‘There’s still a secret, something hidden from us all’: Sangoma on life after the VAT U-turn

The ancestors are not convinced that South Africa is in a stable financial position.

Sangoma Fezile Pretorius of Heavenly Healing said that the recent VAT reversal may have scored political points for some parties, but a far more sobering is what the bones are suggesting about South Africa.

“We may become dependent on foreign aid,” said Pretorius. “That is, if something is not done with a healthy measure of urgency,” he added. “There’s no money,” he said. “The state is going to have to scrape from other places. That’s the situation, said the bones.  No money.”

The short-term relief for consumers came at a cost. Treasury now faces a massive medium-term revenue hole.

Analysts have already flagged the risks to critical public services like education, defense, and healthcare, warning that the VAT rollback may soothe political discomfort but might cut deep into already strained budgets.

Government expenditure, especially on state-owned companies, remains a bit of a rotten apple.

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SOC’s remain a rotten apple

Billions have been swallowed by poorly performing state-owned companies, often without reform or accountability. Calls for reform of state owned entities like SAA and Denel, Transnet and others have come from all corners. Civil society, economists, and business leaders alike.

But according to Pretorius, the writing’s already on the wall. The bones speak metaphorically, but he said, they were clear.

“There needs to be some funerals. Some things have to be shut down,” he said. “Get rid of those things that simply eat money. That’s what the bones are saying. Kill off state-run companies that drain our money.”

This could take the shape of privatisation in some cases or, entities that hold no significant strategic interest for the country can be culled or amalgamated.

Yet Pretorius said the fiscal damage goes deeper than simply state-owned companies. The bones indicated that it’s systemic and bled over time.

“If the country was a person, their stomach has ulcers. There are leaks. This is from bad decision-making in the past. Too much money is flowing out. Corruption,” he said.

 “It’s almost too late to fix it. The bones clearly show many people not doing things by the book, and those individuals were the closest to the money.”

There is still a secret

He said the bones suggested there’s more to come.

“There’s still a secret. Something hidden from us all. More information will come out in the wash, and soon.”

The political cost of the VAT backtrack was also significant. Opposition parties claimed it as a victory, while the ruling party is left to mop up the optics of being the biggest loser.

“They’ve been chasing each other like angry dogs in a cage,” said Pretorius. “Metaphorically, the family is sitting around the table, but one child is very angry.”

Pretorius added that discussions nobody wants to have, must be put on the table. This includes the future of the GNU and, importantly, how the shortfall will be funded.  

“Without radical change, there’s no light. We will likely end up needing help to get us out of the hole we have gotten ourselves into.”

If it’s not direct aid, Pretorius reckoned that the country would have to get into more debt. He said that the bones show that the country has been weakened significantly.

“The only thing we have left, as much of our credibility is gone, is that we can still ask. Beg. That’s all.”

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