BusinessLive reports that labour federation Cosatu and the SA Communist Party (SACP) are still calling for the budget process to fall under the Presidency, arguing that the Treasury is not accountable to the executive.  

The SACP and Cosatu have since 1996 complained about the Treasury’s hold on the budget, which they want loosened to allow for broader influence over budgetary choices.  The Treasury manages the macroeconomic policy and national government finances and prepares the annual budget.  The SACP’s Solly Mapaila said:  "We don’t want a liberal Treasury that focuses on markets instead of the people."  He added that the SACP had not been consulted about the decision to raise the VAT rate and that the Treasury should be open to debate and discussion.  Cosatu echoed the call and said the budgeting process should be mandated by the people.  In its view, the current process did not allow for the sitting president to bring about the change that civil society wanted.  "The Treasury is not really accountable to the president and we are constrained by that reality," said Cosatu.  But the acting Presidency spokesman, Tyrone Seal, said the Treasury did report to the president, but through the Cabinet.

• Read this report by Sunita Menon in full at BusinessLive

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