Africa-Press – South-Africa. As calls mount for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to resign over the latest budget debacle, the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK Party) wants Parliament to act against him.
It’s written to the speaker requesting a motion of no confidence be considered, saying the Government of National Unity (GNU) has failed to act lawfully by adopting a budget for this financial year.
However, the constitution only makes express provision for a motion of no confidence in a president or a cabinet.
Following a high court order over the weekend suspending a value-added tax (VAT) hike and setting aside the fiscal framework, Godongwana is expected to table a new budget in Parliament for the 2025/26 financial year.
While Parliament has witnessed its fair share of motions of no confidence in a president, ministers have mostly been called upon to resign or for the president to fire them when opposition parties have been unhappy with their performance or their behaviour.
In 2022, the Democratic Alliance (DA) brought a motion of no confidence in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s entire cabinet for failing the economy. But it did not succeed.
But the MK Party said if Godongwana doesn’t resign, or isn’t removed, it wants parliament to act.
The party says his tenure has been marked by fiscal mismanagement, and contempt for the poor and he’s plunged the economy into instability and created tax chaos.
“South Africans deserve leadership that rejects austerity and market fundamentalism. They deserve a bold, caring, and people-driven economic future, one led by the MK Party,” the party said in a statement on Tuesday.
The party’s Chief Whip, Mzwanele Manyi, believes it is possible for parliament to remove Godongwana, given that section 92 of the constitution makes ministers accountable to Parliament, while section 102 makes provision for motions of no confidence in a cabinet.
Parliament has confirmed receipt of correspondence from the party.
Spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said the speaker will respond in due course.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
