The demands come in the wake of the reversal of a contentious 0.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) increase, which was set to take effect next week.

The EFF is also calling for the resignation of National Treasury Director-General (DG), Dr Duncan Pieterse, citing failures in fiscal management. According to EFF Senior Researcher, Dr Gumani Tshimomola, Godongwana contravened the Public Finance Management Act by failing to table a budget before the end of the financial year.

"A budget is such an important government instrument to ensure that there's continuity of service delivery and certainty in the economy and the market," Tshimomola stated.

"Business people know what they are dealing with, but in this stance, both the minister and the DG of the National Treasury are unable to present a credible, believable budget that will find consensus in the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces."

Tshimomola further criticised the withdrawal of all budget proposals except the fiscal framework, which has already been adopted but is now being challenged in court. "As things stand now, SA does not have a budget before Parliament, which we can analyse, interrogate, agree or disagree on," he added.

The Minister has said that he will not be resigning. "My job is to introduce money bills, nothing says they must be popular," Godongwana told Reuters on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica/Reuters--