South Africa's two biggest political parties, the African National Congress and the pro-business Democratic Alliance were yet to reach agreement to pass the budget on Tuesday, hours before a key parliamentary committee was set to debate it.

South Africa’s fragile unity government has been shaken again. The country’s second-largest political party broke with partners Wednesday and voted against a national budget.

South Africa’s coalition government is on the brink of collapse after a leading party broke ranks and voted against the Finance Minister’s budget, forcing the long-ruling African National Congress to rely on smaller parties for support.