RON DERBY: After listing the symptoms, Gigaba prescribed a placebo for SA
By not sugar-coating our circumstances, stating them as bluntly as he possibly could, Malusi Gigaba, in his medium-term budget, may have thought he was showing strength. But instead, he simply delivered the clearest evidence yet of a state that’s not being led. It’s all fine to tell a story of fiscal deterioration and that all of us, including the boss, have to understand that ambitious projects such as nuclear are off the table, but that simply isn’t enough. What a finance minister should do, apart from delivering a verdict on the state of our books, is to put forward a plan to get the country out of the hole, one that is endorsed by his cabinet (which in the South African context means okayed by an all-powerful president). In summary, to show some sort of leadership. But to do that is to climb off the fence. What that means politically is for the head of the Treasury to irritate either the “radical elements” or the conservatives that all reside in his party. It’s not a place for a...
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.