South Africa’s two largest political parties, the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), have yet to reach an agreement on the budget, just hours before a crucial parliamentary committee meeting.
The budget, which was initially scheduled for presentation in February, has been delayed due to disagreements within the coalition government.
The ANC requires the support of at least one other major party to pass the budget, while the DA has sought greater influence over policymaking.
Negotiations between the two parties have been ongoing for weeks, but a breakthrough has yet to be achieved.
According to DA party leader John Steenhuisen, the ANC refused to finalize an agreement on growth and spending reforms, putting the coalition government at risk.
Steenhuisen stated that the DA will oppose the budget unless a written agreement is reached.
The ANC and DA have differing ideologies on various issues, including education, land, and health legislation. Despite their differences, they have managed to govern together thus far.
However, the current budget impasse poses a significant challenge to their coalition government.
