Speaker Didiza in the hot seat as EFF demands Budget rethink

Cape Town – The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are threatening further legal action against National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza if public consultation on the revised Budget is not extended.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to table the revised Budget on May 21.

According to SABC news, EFF MP Natasha Ntlangwini emphasised the need for meaningful public and parliamentary engagement, warning the Speaker to avoid pushing through the process without proper consultation.

“The next recourse will be the courts. And we do not want to go to the courts forever as Members of Parliament, if we are having disagreement with you. Start having your office open. Have proper engagements with political parties so that we can address the issues of concern as Members of Parliament, that we are facing within this portfolio committee, that just want to steamroll another process. We are warning you yet again, Speaker. The Budget process needs to be properly consulted, proper public consultations and participation needs to happen,” the report quoted Ntlangwini as saying. 

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says he will not resign despite growing pressure over the 2025 budget impasse, triggered by a court ruling that reversed a proposed 1% VAT increase.

Enoch Godongwana begins in his answering of questions by saying “We are in uncharted waters. Normally under a dominant party, you present a budget and the ANC passes it”

He is basically saying that under normal circumstances, the 2% VAT increase would have passed – the loss of… pic.twitter.com/64sFWOU2De

— Sinawo Thambo (@Sinawo_Thambo) April 30, 2025

He attributed the budget difficulties to the complexities of the current government of national unity and coalition politics.

Godongwana emphasised that his role is constitutionally mandated and resignation is the president’s prerogative.

“We are dealing with unchartered terrain. As you are aware, we used to have a budget with a dominant party being the ANC. And one would prepare the Budget and when you go to Parliament you are sure the ANC will pass the Budget,” the minister said.

“Now we are in a coalition government. That coalition government takes two forms. One, there is a GNGU in Cabinet but in Parliament, there is a number of political parties. Therefore, when you table a money bill, Section 77 of the Constitution empowers me to do that.

“I was within my constitutional parameters to table a money bill. What then happened – because of the nature of the coalition politics, we couldn’t find consensus – both in Cabinet and in the legislature… That process on its own was messy.”

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula also backed Godongwana, calling the resignation calls “political posturing” and criticising the DA for taking the VAT matter to court.