South Africa's contested budget passed its first test in parliament on Tuesday, but its future path remained uncertain as the two biggest political parties in the ruling coalition government were yet to agree on a strategy.

South Africa’s Democratic Alliance, the second-biggest group in the country’s coalition government, sees a “good chance” of an agreement on the nation’s budget this week, the party’s spokesman said. The rand strengthened.

South African opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters has written to the speaker of parliament seeking to block lawmakers from meeting on Wednesday to vote on the next stage of the budget process.