His predecessor must have been all smiles as he listened to Pravin Gordhan deliver his maiden budget with sterling confidence.

Soaring debt could mean serious discomfort for South Africa’s economy, writes Lynley Donnelly.

Cabinet giving even more to education over the medium term, writes Primarashni Gower.

And there won’t be one unless farmers get rain, writes Lynley Donnelly.

Where the tax is likely to be targeted and how it will be implemented is unclear at this stage.

The overall picture is that structural poverty and the inequality trap remain resistant to government’s best efforts.

The medium-term budget policy statement shows that robust policy decisions helped to weather the storm, writes Nic Dawes.