Credit ratings have an impact on government, as well as ordinary people. This article was first published last year as South Africa faced a possible downgrade.
A closer look into the latest financial numbers of South Africa’s state power utility, Eskom, suggest that it may be in a more vulnerable position than appreciated.
A lot was expected from the South African finance minister’s 2016 medium term budget which came amid an unfolding economic crisis including the higher education funding gap.
The video which shows South African President Jacob Zuma sleeping in parliament during the 2016 mid term budget is symptomatic of a much larger problem of lack of respect for the public.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan spoke of protecting the economy from predators. This is commendable but not enough to build an inclusive economy.
South Africa’s finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, had to battle poor growth and falling revenue in preparing the 2016 medium term budget. How did he do?
Finance minister Pravin Gordhan announced that government expenditure on higher education and specifically universities will be the fastest growing expenditure items on the budget.
There is no such thing as ‘free higher education’. Someone has to pay. And the reality is that low, or no tuition fees benefit middle and high-income families.
Treasurer Scott Morrison has given notice of a fresh assault on the crucial challenge of budget repair. Let’s hope he and Malcolm Turnbull have learned from the unfortunate self-destructing experience…
Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne