Thirty years since democracy, the country needs a radical shift to steer it out of stagnation
In this instalment of The Fiscal Cliff – a Mail & Guardian series on how South Africa’s budget has been shaped – Sarah Smit considers the intimate link between the country’s ultra-high unemployment rate and austerity
Ten years after its adoption, the government has failed to achieve the targets set out in the National Development Plan. Looming spending cuts will render the NDP even more futile
Among state-owned entities, the beleaguered power utility is far and away the biggest risk to the public purse
The government is walking a tightrope as civil servants embark on industrial action over pay
Fiscal consolidation is drawing to a close as the public purse was boosted by commodities, but the treasury will probably continue exercising restraint
Eskom, Transnet and the public sector wage bill will feature large in next week’s medium-term budget policy statement
But the department’s already reduced ranks may make it difficult to find someone with the technical know-how and clout to replace Dondo Mogajane
Ramaphosa needs to build broad political consensus if he is to have any chance of pursuing his fiscal and structural reform agenda
The banking sector will be in a vulnerable position if the national treasury does not stabilise its debt
The levy has generated R5.4-billion in revenue since its inception two years ago, and an increase will help the fight against Covid-19