Michael Sachs, the head of the budgeting office at the national treasury, has reportedly resigned because of interference in its budgeting process by the presidency. The Business Day newspaper reported on Monday morning that “a joint team from the treasury and the Office of the president” are searching for R40-billion in expenditure cuts from the..
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Treasury senior official calls it quits as Zuma takeover looms
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How you will pay for Zuma’s free education plan
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The government is considering drastic budget cuts to fund free higher education, including cutting social grants, freezing the roll-out of RDP houses and increasing taxes. With the country facing an unpre-cedented R50.8‑billion revenue hole, a treasury document has been put before President Jacob Zuma by the presidential fiscal committee, outlining possible areas where budgets could..
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How you will pay for Zuma’s free education plan
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The government is considering drastic budget cuts to fund free higher education, including cutting social grants, freezing the roll-out of RDP houses and increasing taxes. With the country facing an unpre-cedented R50.8‑billion revenue hole, a treasury document has been put before President Jacob Zuma by the presidential fiscal committee, outlining possible areas where budgets could..
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Treasury letter – Sassa should not have disqualified Post Office
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A letter by National Treasury to acting South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) CEO Pearl Bhengu says the agency should not have disqualified the South African Post Office (SAPO) from three possible services in the social grants scheme. Treasury was given a week last Wednesday to review all the deal points of the then-collapsing deal..
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South Africa is held hostage to the toxic politics of the ANC
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If it showed anything, the recent medium-term budget policy statement has proven that South Africa does not have a government capable of dealing honestly and head on with the developmental crisis that the country finds itself in. It will not have such a government for some time, at least not until the 2019 general election..
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Parastatal waste equals tax shortfall: Treasury will need to find new resources to close the budget gap
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The R50‑billion shortfall in tax revenue that the treasury will need to find elsewhere to plug the budget gap is close to how much state-owned entities (SOEs) have thrown down the drain in the past financial year. The auditor general, Kimi Makwetu, released national and provincial audit results on Wednesday. Although the number of clean..
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The only thing falling faster than the Rand is the Presidents eyelids: Zuma caught napping during Gigaba’s mini budget speech
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A screenshot of Jacob Zuma taking a nap during Malusi Gigaba’s mini-budget speech has gone viral. Gigaba delivered his “maiden” budget speech on Wednesday – and the forecast was pretty grim. But if you’re hoping that President Jacob Zuma was going to zoom in to try and boost the confidence of consumers and investors, you’re..
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Junk status looms after mid-term budget fails to inspire confidence – It is not looking good for SA
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Economists have warned that South Africa could be in line for a credit downgrade to junk status – possibly before the end of the year. Their fears come in light of Malusi Gigaba’s mid-term budget speech, delivered to parliament on Wednesday. “It is not in the public interest, nor is it in the interests of..
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Gigaba’s first test: Can he ace the mid-term budget?
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Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba is in an unenviable position. In his maiden budget – today’s medium-term budget policy statement – he must confront, among other things, low economic growth, a tax revenue hole big enough to fly a plane through and the budgetary consequences of struggling state-owned enterprises. These issues are some of the chief..
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Government pushes ahead with new pension fund
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Government is pushing ahead with the introduction of a new all-embracing pension fund. But with trust between government and other social partners at an all time low, there are concerns that such a fund could be open to political abuse. The National Social Security Fund will combine all existing pension funds, public and private into..
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