The projected economic growth trajectory remains insufficient to address structural unemployment

The growth outlook is insufficient to alter unemployment dynamics, some argued

National treasury officials said the costing for the deployment of soldiers in crime-affected areas — as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, his Sona, had not yet been done

Over the next three years, growth is projected to average 1.8% and reach 2% by 2028

Budget approval hangs in the balance and resistance to it is set to play out in the legislature’s finance committees

The Democratic Alliance said the budget would struggle to pass in parliament, given the ANC’s lack of a majority

His party would have yielded if any increases were guaranteed to be temporary and tied to an overhaul of state spending patterns

Economists say the government can expect to incur inflationary and exchange rate costs from the move

A senior treasury official told MPs the intention was not to close the widening deficit through higher personal income taxes

Increases will be announced in the new year to raise an additional R15 billion in revenue