The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), an opposition party in South Africa, has formally requested the Speaker of Parliament to prevent lawmakers from convening on Wednesday to vote on the next phase of the budget process.
In a letter addressed to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, the EFF criticized Tuesday’s proceedings in a crucial parliamentary committee, which endorsed the fiscal framework despite concerns regarding certain revenue-generating measures in the budget. They described the process as “procedurally defective and susceptible to legal challenge.”
The EFF is demanding the withdrawal of the committee’s report that supports the fiscal framework and is urging for the rescheduling of the Wednesday afternoon parliamentary session intended to discuss and vote on this report.
The letter warned, “If this does not happen, the EFF will contemplate immediate legal action, including the possibility of an interdict, to halt the presentation and processing of a report adopted in contravention of the law.”
In the recent parliamentary session, the African National Congress (ANC), the largest party in the ruling coalition, relied on support from ActionSA, a smaller party not part of the coalition, to secure the necessary votes in the Standing Committee on Finance.
The Democratic Alliance, the ANC’s primary coalition partner, has accused the ANC of overstepping by enlisting a party outside the coalition to facilitate the approval of the fiscal framework.
COSATU, the largest trade union federation and a long-time ally of the ANC, expressed that it would be a “travesty” if parliament disregards concerns about increasing value-added tax (VAT) and failing to adjust personal income tax (PIT) brackets for inflation.
In a statement, COSATU remarked, “This would be a disaster and a breach of trust that politicians cannot afford to ignore as they approach the 2026 local elections.”
