Gordhan: SA finances safe

Pretoria - Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan says the country is entering a short period in which there will be "significant pressure on fiscal resources".

He told Sake24.com that it was important to give serious thought to what needed to be done and whether there was sufficient money available to do it.

Gordhan stressed that there would be no deviation from the policies of Trevor Manuel, his predecessor, now minister in the presidency.

Gordhan is passionate when speaking of the role his ministry needs to play in bringing about social justice.

In such communities people have job opportunities, and good opportunities, they have self-respect and dignity, and they do not succumb to preventable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids.

"Imbalances create political, social and economic tension. By creating a new economic model to which one can aspire at an international level, we can endeavour to eliminate these imbalances."

The new model needs to evolve within a context in which the private sector has an opportunity to flourish and create jobs.

Government needs to create the appropriate environment for this. "It must occur within the framework of the financial limitations," he pointed out.

Gordhan says the 3.8% budget deficit is significantly higher than that to which the country has been accustomed.

But, he reckons, the government will be able to make use of loans in times when tax revenue is under pressure.

"We are safe," he assures.

It is the responsibility of all leaders to go to work frugally and give South Africans greater value for their tax money.

- Sake24.com

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