Day 1 of the 2025 Tax Indaba focused on unpacking South Africa’s deepening fiscal pressures and the broader global forces reshaping tax policy. The day opened with an examination of the country’s escalating tax debt crisis, tracing its historical roots and questioning whether SARS can continue meeting rising revenue demands amid a difficult budget trajectory. This led into debates on bold tax reform options, including whether South Africa should maintain its subsidy‑driven growth model or rethink the size and structure of government. The programme then explored how political tensions complicate the tax policy process, using the recent VAT dispute as an example of deeper systemic issues. Further sessions highlighted the rapid evolution of tax administration driven by technology and regulatory change, followed by a look at the global stage, specifically the implications of the U.S. withdrawal from BEPS 2.0 and shifting tariff strategies in a post‑Trump era. The day concluded with a forward‑looking discussion on the transformation of the tax profession and a continental reflection on how Africa can rethink its tax systems to reclaim its fiscal future.

Day 2 of the 2025 Tax Indaba offered a comprehensive exploration of South Africa’s fiscal realities within both a domestic and global context. The morning opened with a deep dive into the country’s worsening tax debt crisis, examining its historical roots, the current revenue pressures on SARS, and the urgent need for structural tax reform to unlock growth. The programme then shifted into discussions about the increasingly politicised environment shaping tax and budget policy, followed by insights into how modern tax administration is evolving through technology and regulatory changes. The afternoon broadened the lens to global influences, including the implications of the U.S. withdrawal from BEPS 2.0 and shifting tariff strategies, before turning attention to the future of the tax profession and Africa’s need to rethink its tax systems to secure long‑term fiscal resilience. Overall, the day highlighted a central theme: South Africa and the continent are at a fiscal crossroads, requiring bold, coordinated, and innovative approaches to tax policy, administration, and governance.