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/ 31 January 2007

SA December trade balance swings into surplus

South Africa’s trade balance swung into surplus in December from a R10,5-billion deficit the previous month, official data showed on Wednesday. The surplus was far better than a Reuters survey forecast of a R2-billion deficit in December, although the data is volatile and unpredictable and December is traditionally a low import month.

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/ 29 January 2007

Finance Ministry calls for tips for Trevor

The Finance Ministry has invited all South Africans to send their tips to the "Tips for Trevor" campaign about what they would like to see included in next month’s national budget. According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Lindani Mbunyuza, the campaign is run throughout the year and the tips received assist the minister in understanding public sentiment.

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/ 26 January 2007

ANC admits it used BEE funding front

ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe has admitted that Chancellor House — the black economic “empowerment” (BEE) group exposed by the Mail & Guardian last year — is a ruling-party funding vehicle. Motlanthe’s admission was contained in articles on the ANC, business and funding published in the Financial Mail last week. He is quoted as saying that Chancellor House is an “ANC vehicle” whose sole purpose is funding the ANC.