The Big Five Challenges for Budget 2016
22 February 2016
Note to editor: This was the press statement release at the DA's press conference called by DA Shadow Minister of Finance, David Maynier MP, and DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Finance, Alf Lees MP, ahead of the Budget Speech in Parliament this week.
The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, will table the budget in Parliament on 24 February 2016. However, the Minister is in a tight spot with very little fiscal space, and even less political space, available to respond to the economic crisis and the risk of a sovereign ratings downgrade in South Africa.
The view that the Minister has a “free hand” to do what he likes seems exaggerated, especially given the back peddling on retirement reform, relating to the Taxation Laws Amendment Act (No. 25 of 2015), following political pressure from COSATU.
In our view, the Minister faces five big challenges going into the budget, including (1) dealing with high levels of unemployment; (2) avoiding a sovereign ratings downgrade; (3) providing relief to poor households; (4) dealing with the student fees crisis; and (5) providing drought relief.