This week South Africa’s finance minister Tito Mboweni will deliver the country’s medium term budget review.
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Medium-term expenditure frameworks can be useful only when they are based on comprehensive medium-term development plans.
Expenditure cuts require a political settlement that has failed to materialise under South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa.
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South Africa’s National Treasury now proposes to reduce salaries. On the face of it this seems sensible. But the fundamental issue is the structure of the public service.
African National Congress treasurer Paul Mashatile wants more money for political parties from the government.
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Since parties always need money, forcing them to depend on private funders means throwing them into the hands of donors who will demand favours for their cash.
South African Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni. The origins of the country’s fiscal crisis are deeper than COVID-19.
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Resolution of South Africa’s fiscal crisis depends on faster economic growth which must be led by private investment. Fiscal consolidation is necessary but without growth debt will not stabilise.
Job seekers wait on the side of a road in South Africa. Joblessness stands at a record high.
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Economic distress was the norm for many before the coronavirus outbreak. The pandemic is an opportunity to provide an economically secure future for all.
South Africa’s finance minister, Tito Mboweni, ahead of his budget speech.
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The South African government is hamstrung by the country’s fiscal and economic situation. And short of ideas about how to get out of it.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers his state of the nation address.
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President Ramaphosa’s state of the nation speech showed his preference for less contentious matters that attract praise, rather than catalytic decisions.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech failed to inspire confidence.
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The year ahead promises to be a very difficult but also a very decisive year for South Africa. Is President Ramaphosa equal to the challenge?
South Africa’s finance minister, Tito Mboweni, delivering his mid-term budget.
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A major concern is that the government’s resolve is strongest on policies that are actually quite suspect.
South African Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delivers the mid-term budget statement at parliament, Cape Town, South Africa, 24 October 2018.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Finance Minister Tito Mboweni appear to have good intentions for the economy. But that’s not enough.
An electronic toll gantry on a Johannesburg highway.
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Politicians oppose toll roads on Johannesburg’s highways, yet they are textbook example of progressive taxation that favours the poor.
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa won’t have free reign when choosing his Cabinet.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has to ensure that reform of critical institutions is placed first. Everything else will be compromised if this fails.
A barman using candle light as another rolling blackout affects large parts of South Africa’s biggest city, Johannesburg.
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South Africa isn’t having an honest debate about proposals to fix its power utility Eskom, and the role that renewables might play.
South African performers from the Mzansi Ballet.
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Government support for the arts, culture and heritage is important even in tough economic conditions.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Tito Mboweni preparing to deliver the budget.
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South Africa’s latest budget was a necessary stop-gap after the ravages of the past decade. But it didn’t have ideas that addressed the needs of poor people.
South African Finance MInister Tito Mboweni delivering the 2019 budget speech in parliament.
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South Africa’s finance minister delivered a budget that tried to balance serving the public interest, while maintaining the stability of public finances.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Tito Mboweni (centre) arrives to deliver the mid-term budget statement to Parliament.
EPA-EFE/Nic Bothma
South Africa needs to urgently step up its efforts to drive economic growth by harnassing the power of the state, as well as the markets.
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa addresses a recent investment summit.
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South Africa’s president has firmly thrown his weight behind the private sector. This could prove significant.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Tito Mboweni must walk a fiscal tightrope.
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South Africa’s finance minister has chosen to walk a tightrope rather than face tough choices about cutting expenditure or raising taxes.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Tito Mboweni must answer several big questions about the country’s economic plans.
Sebastiao Moreira
The damage done during the preceding decade will have a negative effect on South Africa’s public finances and the economy for some time to come.