EFF hands over memorandum to National Treasury ahead of budget speech

JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has submitted a memorandum of demands to the National Treasury after a march to its headquarters in Pretoria.

The purpose of the march was to pressure Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana into delivering a budget that excludes any tax increases.

READ: Malema urges Godongwana to table 'people's budget'

Among the party’s key demands is a budget free of austerity measures and tax hikes, or cuts to essential departments.

Godongwana is set to present his budget on Wednesday, following the annulment of the previous one by the Western Cape High Court.

The usually bustling Madiba Street in Pretoria's CBD came to a halt, as taxis were forced to divert to alternative routes.

Supporters of the EFF gathered around the national treasury offices one of the tallest buildings in the inner city chanting and singing for what they call a people's budget.

They sang loudly throughout the day but carefully listened as the EFF's Treasurer General Omphile Maotwe red out the party’s demands.

"We demand: transformation of the leadership, senior management, and strategic functions of National Treasury. Reverse budget cuts and increase funding to the public health system, basic education, policing, and military infrastructure. These are not bailouts — they are investments in state capacity and sovereignty. Reject the ideological refusal to fund soes. National Treasury must finance the recovery of strategic entities like Transnet, Prasa, Denel, and Eskom. This must be paired with strict anti-corruption and anti-capture mechanisms, including parliamentary oversight and community boards."

All eyes are now on the minister as he prepares to present his budget.