FREE TO READ | Women effecting real change
Women, while competing in almost entrenched patriarchal systems, must begin to lift as they rise
CLAIRE BISSEKER: Mboweni digs in his heels
The 2021 budget is a valiant effort to hold the fiscal line and curtail SA’s debt burden while supporting its recovery
Claire Bisseker Economics writer
MIKE SCHÜSSLER: SA’s big budget secret
Don’t let the budget PR fool you: SA’s problem is that the government spends too much. That’s not about to change
XHANTI PAYI: Billions spent, so where are the jobs?
The government needs to move beyond its big business bias if it wants its job-creation initiatives to be successful
PETER BRUCE: Slow and not so steady
Mboweni bought Ramaphosa more breathing space, but the president still can’t shake off his party’s shackles
Peter Bruce Editor-at-large & columnist
MAMOKETE LIJANE: Not the remedy, but still a salve
This budget aims to show lenders that SA is clawing back its fiscal credibility and coming back to a sustainable path
Eskom: the elephant in the budget room
Avoiding discussion of Eskom and its enormous debt burden unfortunately won’t make the problem go away
CORPORATE TAX: Tax rate to go down ... eventually
Change will bring SA into line with other countries and make it more competitive, says Saica tax head
COLLECTED INCOME: Treasury’s R99.6bn windfall
Revenue collection is better than expected, heading off a controversial wealth tax and personal tax increases
SIN TAX: A boon to the illicit market
No respite for the Covid-hit booze and smokes industries as Tito doubles excise duties to 8%
COVID RESPONSE: Treasury’s big jab job all paid for
How do you spend your way out of a pandemic? Well, buy the people their vaccines. For starters
SA REVENUE SERVICE: Escaping Moyane’s shadow
The Sars unit destroyed in the state capture years is back to target those hiding their wealth offshore
WELFARE: Tighten your belts, ye poor
Paltry social grants reverse Mboweni’s earlier prioritising of people over fiscal consolidation, says welfare advocate
CRIME, COURTS & SECURITY: Cops face the chop
Mboweni likely to rile organised labour as he slashes budget for police, soldiers and courts
HEALTH: Health-care cuts, Covid or not
In the budget fine print, it’s clear that the health sector wasn’t spared the sort of cuts needed for SA to avoid a debt trap
EDUCATION: Teacher pay freeze right move
SA needs more money in education — but there are far more pressing priorities than hiking teachers’ salaries
PERSONAL TAX: Breathe out, for now
Income tax hikes are off the table and, in fact, some relief has been granted. But the wealthy had better watch out
CLAUDE BAISSAC: Rebuilding the middle class
Getting SA back on the right track means that we have to widen the base of taxpayers. There is no real alternative
INFRASTRUCTURE: Shoulder to the wheel
Mboweni plays nicely with the private sector as the government renews its infrastructure pledges
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