IN response to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s Budget Speech, local opposition spokespeople shared their views on the issues addressed in the speech.
IN response to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s Budget Speech, local opposition spokespeople shared their views on the issues addressed in the speech.
This was Gordhan’s first Budget Speech and the first in the administration of President Jacob Zuma. Gordhan addressed the issues of employment, growth and poverty, stating that “our economy needs to be transformed to meet the needs of all our people”.
He focused on the development of South Africa’s economy over the last 20 years, referring to President Zuma’s State of the Nation Address which coincided with the 20th anniversary of former President Nelson
Mandela’s release from prison.
Gordhan then discussed several aspects of a new growth path for South Africa, including the effort to promote job creation for the youth, support for labour-intensive industries, sustaining high levels of public and private investment, improving the performance and effectiveness of the state which includes the provision of quality education, keeping inflation low and striving for a stable and competitive exchange rate.
In response to the speech, UDM spokesperson Maxwell Mhlati agreed with some of the issues addressed. “I agree with the fact that most of the funding went towards education,” he said.
He also approved of the fact that there were no increases in deflation expect for liquor, tobacco and petrol.
However, he did feel that the issue of government expenditure was not adequately addressed.
“Health services are collapsing we can’t say that this is quality service.
In the Eastern Cape, the budget is exhausted.” Cope spokesperson Sam Kwelita was also concerned about the lack of discussion surrounding this issue.
“I am unclear about the money which has been spent by the government. However I am happy that there have been job creations,” he said.
Kwelita said he felt that the Budget Speech was better and more informative than President Zuma’s state-of-the-nation address.
ANC spokesperson Mlibo Qoboshiyane had a different view. “Gordhan completely took on board the issues which were concentrated on in the address.
There was compassionate and humane content which targeted the poor, children and the elderly.” Qoboshiyane is however equally concerned about government expenditure.
“This should have been addressed. It is not correct for departments to spend so much on marketing instead of focussing on core issues,” he said. “Overall I thought the speech was a mixed bag,” said Bobby Stevenson, a spokesperson for the DA.
On the one hand, he was pleased with the fact that jobs were being created for young South Africans and on the focus on the need for tax compliance as well as the clamping down on people who don’t pay tax.
“I was happy that they are adopting the DA’s approach to wage subsidies,” he said. On the other hand, he felt that not enough has been changed.
“There seemed to be no shift in government thinking, something which we desperately need in this country.” Grahamstown residents also shared their views on the speech.
Struan Douglas, a journalist, felt that there was not enough concentration on social development, while Lungile Bentele, a police officer, is concerned about police funding.
“We want to know how much the police are going to get. If we get more money, then crime will be reduced,” he said.
Wimpie Bosch, a pharmacist, found the speech quite conservative. “I am happy that there is no increase on personal tax, but there needs to be more emphasis on the delivery of municipalities.
I think Gordhan did well in carrying on from where Trevor Manuel left off.” Gordhan also mentioned the much anticipated Fifa World Cup, saying that the government will be “ambitious yet realistic, bold yet pragmatic and creative yet build on sound, secure foundations.”
