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Cape Town - End corruption, Fin24 users have told Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in response to his call for pre-budget 2016 feedback.
In the run-up to one of the most important annual government events, the budget speech, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has invited South Africans to submit their tips on what they would like to see in the National Budget.
He delivers his Budget address on Wednesday, 24 February, amid an ailing economy and as South Africa fights to avoid a downgrade of its sovereign bonds to junk status.
In his invitation for tips on what South Africans would like to see in the National Budget, Gordhan listed four areas for comment:
a) What) are the three things that government does very well?
b) What are the three things that government should stop doing?
c) What are the three areas that government spending should be directed to?
d) How can SA achieve inclusive economic growth?
The overwhelming majority of Fin24 users thought the government did well in "collecting taxes" and "doing nothing".
READ: Govt good at collecting tax, doing nothing, say Fin24 users
Gordhan is facing his toughest act yet on Wednesday after he returned in December to the portfolio he held from 2009 to 2014 in a turbulent week when President Jacob Zuma fired Nhlanhla Nene and appointed untested David van Rooyen, only to replace him four days later with Gordhan.
The event, known as Nenegate, shaved off more than R150bn off the markets and the rand fell to almost R18/$. Gordhan's appointment has since brought calm to the markets, with the rand trading at its best levels for the year at around R15.40/$.
User views
Fin24 user Dani says the government should stop turning a blind eye to corruption; lying to the people and wasting taxpayers' money.
Fin24 user Kim Scott's response on three things government should stop doing: "corruption, corruption, corruption".
Matthew Hammond says the government should stop "protecting corrupt, uneducated and incompetent people who abuse positions of power", stop "funding state-owned enterprises that consistently underperform despite unfair protection", and stop "the implementation of e-tolls country-wide".
Paul Gerber suggests the government places the best qualified people in the right positions and not friends.
User Derek feels that the power of South African unions needs to be reduced along with the size of the civil service.
Phumlani Mdletshe suggests some tough measures for MECs and MPs: "cut off unnessary benefits... they're earning too much already... take away credit cards, clothing allowance, cellphone allowance, and car allowance".
Users Daniel van Wyk and Sue Swart want government to do away with BEE and put an end to "corruption, cronyism, and tokenism".
Reghard Hamman says the government should stop throwing good tax money after failing and failed state owned enterprises and giving tenders to connected individuals and using other considerations outside of sound business principles in the awarding of tenders.
He also suggests the government stop scaring off foreign investors through proposed laws that would limit their property rights and rights of recourse to south African courts.
INFOGRAPHIC: Things government should stop doing, according to more than 140 Fin24 users.
* Post your Pointers for Pravin hereor email it to us.
