A new deal in the medium-term budget is crucial to heal social disintegration
Panel offers wide-ranging advice for Gigaba’s policy statement, writes Raenette Taljaard
The ideas exchange on the medium-term budget policy statement by Economic Research Southern Africa has produced a rich and varied set of ideas to relieve the pressure faced by Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba. The panellists were the chairman of the think tank’s board, Elias Masilela, former National Treasury deputy director-general and now research associate at the University of Cape Town Andrew Donaldson, private sector economist and academic Prof Brian Kantor, Cosatu leader Tony Ehrenreich and the head of policy and research at the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation, Jan Hofmeyr. They noted the fiscal pressure Gigaba would be under as he tables the medium-term budget policy statement on October 25, because revenue collection is far lower than February’s predictions. Lacklustre and sluggish economic growth was having a concomitant effect on the deficit and rising debt-to-GDP level, which would affect public spending in the context of an imminent new wage settlement in the publi...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.