In the week of the budget speech The Journalist focuses aspects of the budget and economic development. Some matters require consideration; can social spending be maintained and increased? How will the electricity recovery plan be financed? How do world economic trends impact on South Africa?

For those interested in the budget, you can listen to the speech live on our website or you can read the article by economist Catherine Kannemeyer from the Mapungubwe Institute.

But future budgets will be determined by the extent that the country can ensure greater economic growth and development. In order to understand the prospects on this front, the address at the SONA sitting by Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel makes for interesting reading. See his speech attached.