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Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

It’s time for a community-centred budget

A credible budget in 2026 cannot be based solely on spreadsheets. It must rebalance power and investment toward the local economies that sustain the majority of South Africans.

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the 2026 Sona. (GCIS)

Beyond the noise: A sober and rigorous assessment of criticism of the Sona

Beyond the noise: A sober and rigorous assessment of criticism of the Sona

The South African Reserve Bank is likely to hold interest rates unchanged

Reserve Bank likely to leave interest rates unchanged on Thursday

Despite the global environment becoming less tense since the March meeting, the central bank will remain cautious, economists say

Consumer inflation edged higher to April to 2.8% year-on-year from 2.7% in March, driven mainly by the housing and utilities as well as the alcoholic beverages and tobacco categories, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.

April consumer inflation edges higher to 2.8% year-on-year

April’s slight uptick suggests that the Reserve Bank will keep the benchmark repo rate at 7.5% next week

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

High court suspends VAT hike

The Democratic Alliance launched the application against the finance minister, the South African Revenue Service, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the…

2025 Budget Speech Commentary: Economic Policy and Its Impact on Low-Income Households

The budget speech poses an ideal opportunity for us to reflect on the influence policy has on the economic outcomes of all South Africans. The South African economic system…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana did not announce a budget allocation to plug the gap created by the termination of USAid funding to HIV/Aids organisations (Photo by Luke Dray/Getty Images)

No allocations for Pepfar in health budget

The recent termination of USAid to HIV/Aids and TB organisations in South Africa was a bone of contention in the 2025 budget

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. File Photo
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WATCH LIVE: Godongwana delivers Budget Speech

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to deliver the budget speech after it was postponed last month due to a lack of consensus among cabinet ministers in the government…

Economic Freedom Fighters commander-in-chief, Julius Malema. Photo: @EFFSouthAfrica

Political parties say postponing the budget tabling renders parliament useless

The parties accused parliament of failing its constitutional duties after the delay, caused by divisions in the unity government over a proposed VAT hike

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

Cabinet spokesperson shoots down DA claims of Budget victory

The rand depreciated after the postponement of the budget speech to 12 March

No cheers: The treasury aims to curb alcohol consumption because of its role in health problems and road deaths.

‘Tax is unlikely to deter drinkers’

The treasury wants to raise taxes on alcoholic beverages and set a minimum price per unit

New Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube. (Photo by Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images)

Siviwe Gwarube: Irresponsible to change school system halfway into academic year

The new basic education minister said she would not implement new policies or programmes without evidence of their value This content is restricted to registered users and…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Photographer: Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Social wage bill consumes R1.2 trillion of government revenue

Additional funds have been allocated to pay teachers, doctors, nurses and police officers but productivity is not always commensurate with salaries

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. (Photo: David Harrison)
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WATCH LIVE: Godongwana delivers the 2024 Budget speech

Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, will present the 2024 Budget Speech at the Cape Town City Hall

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. (Photo: Mlungisi Louw/Gallo Images)

Budget 2024: Jury’s still out on tax hikes

The budget is expected to lay out plans to raise R15bn in revenue, amid a commodity-induced slump This content is restricted to registered users and subscribers. Get Your Free…

Unemployed men inJohannesburg wait on a street corner for work for part-time work. Photo: Naashon Zalk/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Fiscal Cliff | Shallow state purse deepens jobs crisis

In this instalment of The Fiscal Cliff – a Mail & Guardian series on how South Africa’s budget has been shaped – Sarah Smit considers the intimate link between the country’s…

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande, delivering the 2023/24 budget. Photo: Siyabonga Nxumalo

The state of higher education: A conversation with Blade Nzimande

Government spending on higher education has ballooned, but allocation is key

Eskom’s financial situation renders it unable to service utilities from its own revenue. Over R200 billion of the utility’s debt has been considered distressed debt — which must be paid back with urgency — by Eskom chief financial officer Calib Cassim.

Is Nersa really to blame for Eskom’s mess?

Political parties and NGOs will be taking Nersa and Eskom to court for granting the utility an 18.65% tariff hike

Staying put: Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is under pressure from some political parties to resign over the VAT drama and the national budget. (Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Opposition parties criticise Godongwana over public sector wage bill, state-owned enterprises

The finance minister’s reduction in corporate income tax and allocations to education, health, social development, justice and police have been welcomed

Opposition parties have slammed the department of defence and state-owned military manufacturer Denel after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) told parliament it had uncovered irregularities in procurements and the awarding of contracts

Budget 2022: Godongwana sticks to tough love talk on SOEs, but dishes out funding to Denel

The finance minister made a smallish exception for Denel in terms of funding but warned that the government wants to push ahead with plans to consolidate SOEs that no longer…