Budget 2016

The heat will be on South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan when he delivers his mid-term budget.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s resolve to maintain fiscal discipline and avoid a junk credit rating is facing a severe test.

MPs from the Democratic Alliance were not impressed that the finance minister decided to pursue overseas investors instead of attending the debate.

The rand has taken a major step back, which analysts attribute to the growing tensions between President Jacob Zuma and Pravin Gordhan.

Non-compliant taxpayers have an opportunity to voluntarily disclose their offshore assets and income to Sars – or else face the full force of the law.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has not yet revealed how the government will fund its National Insurance scheme.

“Pragmatic”, “interesting”, “praise-worthy” and “disappointing” have all been used to describe the finance minister’s 2016 budget speech.

Cutting the bloated public service wage bill is critically important, but it is sure to be unpopular with the ANC’s powerful labour allies.

Pravin Gordhan achieved a balance between tax increases and spending cuts, but stealth and wealth taxes are concerning, writes Nazrien Kader.

Pravin Gordhan has warned in this budget that South Africa is at risk of becoming a “kleptocracy” if there is no improvement in business ethics.

The poor suffer most as councils buckle under the weight of leaky sewers, debt and rank ineptitude.

The finance minister’s budget plan is ambitious, but government has lost its legitimacy and restoring faith in the state will be no easy feat.

But Minister David van Rooyen’s unimpressive management of funds in the past casts doubt on his ability to turn around dysfunctional municipalities.

Pravin Gordhan has tried to please everyone, but SA needs an overhaul of macroeconomic policy and state restructuring, writes Gumani Tshimomola.

Tax burdens – even for the rich – may have eased, but inflation will step in to spoil the party.