A growth-oriented bid-term budget statement would go a long way towards creating a fertile environment for new investments

As South Africa prepares for a mid-term budget rumours are flying thick and fast about the fate of Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene

The Finance Minister kept his cards close to his chest during his budget speech

An ailing economy and toxic politics weigh heavily on a finance minister keeping SA afloat.

It’s easy to see where the minister could raise money if he really wanted to ameliorate poverty.

Speaking to press on the matter, Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas said the treasury was guided by the IRP.

Pravin Gordhan has said he plans to reduce government spending, raise taxes and cut the budget deficit to 3.2 percent of GDP.

With the nation’s credit rating in terrible shape, SA’s finance minister may be forced to downgrade growth and tax forecasts in his mid-term budget.

Nhlanhla Nene’s medium-term budget statement and last month’s inflation report are the big items on South Africa’s economic calendar.

Thandi Modise’s office says her R1.3-million car was not bought to defy Pravin Gordhan’s call for stricter monetary control by civil servants.

Curbs on buying flashy cars and travelling first class are among measures expected in the long-delayed Ministerial Handbook.

During his medium-term budget policy speech Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan kept the rhetoric upbeat and SA’s purse strings tight, as expected.

From saving money in an election year to e-tolls and the NDP, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s mid-term budget review might be a juggling act.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget statement, in which growth and fiscal projections will be updated, is the big item on the economic calendar.

Despite the basic education department’s rattling, the treasury has confirmed the R7.2-billion for school infrastructure backlogs was reallocated.

Although providing power to far-flung homes remains a national imperative, the department of energy is struggling to deal with it.

Johannesburg’s residents are doing a lot better in adopting new modes of public transport compared with Capetonians, according to the midterm budget.

Increased labour unrest was unlikely to derail the state’s efforts to roll out infrastructure, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has said.

But analysts have questioned whether the colleges have the necessary capacity to deal with large intakes, writes Faeeza Ballim.

Pravin Gordhan clearly wants public finances to to be judged on the numbers, not on the dismal politics that drove ratings downgrades.