The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), one of South Africa’s main opposition parties, plans to stay away from the 2018 national budget speech delivered by Finance minister Malusi Gigaba.
Gigaba will deliver the 2018 national budget on Wednesday afternoon at 14H00.
“The EFF rejects Malusi Gigaba and will boycott the Budget Vote if it is him who will be presenting it. #GigabaMustFall , ” noted the EFF in a late tweet from the party’s official account on Tuesday evening.
In the days leading to the national budget vote, the EFF had reiterated how newly elected president Cyril Ramaphosa needs to fire some of the ministers from former president Jacob Zuma’s cabinet.
Gigaba was appointed by former president Jacob Zuma who has been accused of corruption and having close links with the Gupta family.
The Gupta family has been accused of capturing the state and influencing ministers running key departments in the country.
The EFF notes how Gigaba should not be afforded the “privilege of presenting the country’s budget” .
“To avoid disruptions, we will stay away from the house for the entire country to see that Ramaphosa is sustaining the legacy of disreputable ministers like Gigaba,” notes the EFF.
SABC News asked those on Twitter if president Ramaphosa should fire Gigaba. 36% said he should be fired after the budget speech, 45% said he should be fired immediately, 11% said Gigaba should not be fired and 8% were not sure
Should President #CyrilRamaphosa remove Minister Malusi Gigaba from the Finance ministry? #Budget2018 #CabinetReshuffle
— SABC News Online (@SABCNewsOnline) February 20, 2018
