EFF calls for public input on the Budget, threatens court litigation

The Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) is threatening another court litigation against the Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza. The party says if the consultation time for the tabling of the revised Budget is not extended further to include the public to make the inputs, the party will head to court again.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to table a new revised Budget on the 21st of May.

EFF MP Natasha Ntlangwini, says, “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.”

Another EFF MP, Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi says the Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza should pay the legal costs for their case challenging the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals.

The Western Cape High Court ordered the suspension of the 0,5 percentage points VAT increase, and set aside the Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals resolutions.

Mkhaliphi says had the Speaker not approved the adoption of the Fiscal Framework, the party and the DA  would not have approached the court.

“We had a chief whip’s forum this morning and then we dealt with some of the issues, but some of the issues were not clarified, Speaker. For instance, there is a court case. There is a court decision that Speaker must pay 50% of the legal costs of the EFF and the minister and everyone. Therefore, Speaker, can you clarify to the nation; are you going to pay that 50% from your own pocket? Because you can’t take the money from the people who are also struggling to make ends meet and then pay for the things that we raised with you,” says Mkhaliphi.

The ANC says it wants Parliament to adhere to the time frames for consultations on the tabling of the revised Budget.

Deputy Chief Whip Doris Dlakude says, “As the ANC in this process, is that, as long as the timeframes are constitutionally set for the Budget to be passed, as long as those timeframes are adhered to, then that is what we are expecting all of us to adhere to, (to) follow the necessary processes of the passing of the Budget, so that this country cannot be held to ransom for failing to pass the Budget.”