NARRATIVES AND NUMBERS
Two sides of Treasury coin: why this year is Gordhan’s toughest budget
Political infighting and opposing ideas on who should control the public purse make Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s task extra challenging, writes Hilary Joffe
Just a few days before last year’s February budget speech, the Hawks sent Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan 27 questions related to the so-called South African Revenue Service’s (SARS’s) "rogue unit". Then, just days before October’s medium-term budget, the Hawks laid charges of fraud against Gordhan that were subsequently withdrawn. Then, the battle between those seeking to capture the state and the Treasury for their own ends and those – led by Gordhan – trying to prevent that was being waged under cover of fake charges. Now, as Gordhan prepares to table the 2017 budget in Parliament on Wednesday, the battle is seemingly out in the open. President Jacob Zuma has reportedly accused Gordhan and his team of frustrating "radical economic transformation" and depriving ministers of resources they need to pursue their mandates.Others in Cabinet and the ANC leadership have chimed in with similar refrains. And while there may no longer be fake charges, a stream of outlandish fake news report...
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