BUDGET FOR PRIORITIES
ANC’s Mkhize welcomes focus on transformation
ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize says Gordhan delivered a good speech in a difficult economic climate
Prioritisation was the name of the game in Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s 2017 budget, says ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize. The ANC is divided over support for Treasury and Gordhan, with those aligned to President Jacob Zuma attacking him on the eve of his budget speech in Parliament. The ANC Youth League called for his removal and the ANC Women’s League blamed Gordhan for the slow pace of transformation in SA. Zuma complained at the ANC’s lekgotla last month that Treasury was an obstacle to the party’s radical economic transformation programme. Mkhize said Gordhan had delivered a "good speech" in a difficult economic climate — it was "bold and frank". He welcomed procurement reforms targeting small businesses and the focus on transformation, particularly to ensure efficient service-delivery programmes. He played down criticism of Gordhan by his colleagues in the Cabinet, saying that in all countries ministers demanded more funds for their portfolios. "I don’t think he could ...
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