The Democratic Alliance, which joined the government after the long-ruling African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority last year, said it could not support a tax increase that would further burden the poor majority of the country's population. It said it would challenge the budget's adoption in court.

South Africa's Democratic Alliance will oppose the national budget until it strikes a pact on growth and spending reforms with coalition partner the African National Congress, party leader John Steenhuisen said on Tuesday.

Leaders of South Africa’s Democratic Alliance will meet to discuss its involvement in the nation’s coalition government after lawmakers passed a budget framework that second-biggest party opposed.