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A calculator and pen depicted in the picture.
Cabinet and Treasury will have a special meeting on Monday to finalize the country’s budget. This follows the postponement of the Budget Speech, which was moved from the 19th of February, to the 12th of March.
During the post Cabinet briefing held in Parliament today, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet wanted to collectively address the country’s fiscal environment.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni wants to allay fears about further tension in the cabinet over the new budget speech.
“In Cabinet, we don’t have political parties, and we don’t have people representing political parties. We have members of Cabinet appointed by the president of the republic, who serve at the pleasure of the republic, as prescribed by the president’s act. That allows him to appoint members of the Cabinet to act collectively within in cabinet. And that has been made clear. Nobody is bringing a party jacket. We want to represent the interests of all South Africans,” says Ntshavheni.
This special meeting will take place on Monday the 3rd of March.
“It’s part of the process. Because even when we’ve discussed, somebody has to go crunch the numbers and come back and say, what does this look like, what does it mean. So, don’t peddle rumors, we are going to meet next week Monday to finalize our inputs to Treasury, so that we allow the Minister of Finance and the Treasury team space to do what they are required to do,” she adds.
When questioned about Afrikaner lobby groups Afriforum and Solidariteit’s visit to the US President Donald Trump’s administration, she said they were causing the country more harm than good, saying their peddling of lies was damaging to South Africa.
“If they don’t like South Africa so much, if they don’t like the efforts of the government to address the iniquities of the past why don’t they take up President Trump on his offer, to resettle in the United States? I think we need to leave it there. So, those who don’t like what’s happening in South Africa, there is an offer, and we must emphasize it’s not all Afrikaners. It’s not all white people. It’s those, selectively. We appreciate the support of our media for coming out to clarify that what is being said is lies, is not in line with the South African constitution,” says Ntshaveni.
Ntshavheni says the government continues to engage with the US, adding that the two countries have mutual interests. She says it’s beneficial for both to have good relations.
She has confirmed that envoys will be sent around the world to address the concerns raised about South Africa’s domestic legislation and foreign policies.
Video: Budget on track ahead of 12 March: Ntshavheni
