Budget 3.0 plus a coalition court battle

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana this week concluded a briefing where he announced that he would table the national budget anew by telling reporters, “Love you all.” It was a way of saying we've been through the trenches with the treasury on two failed attempts and he will see us back there soon.

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Fatigue might have softened the minister, and his third budget might well be his final one for the year because, this time, there will be no tax increases.

We are all tired — the public, the press and many politicians — weary of a coalition that constantly leads itself to the edge.

The exception is Democratic Alliance (DA) federal council chair Helen Zille, who is riding high on the VAT victory and into the next economic policy battle with the ANC, this time over new employment equity targets gazetted by the labour department.