THE ANC WELCOMES THE MEDIUM TERM BUDGET POLICY STATEMENT PRESENTED THE MINISTER OF FINANCE PRAVIN GORDHAN
The African National Congress (ANC) welcomes the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement by the Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, tabled today, the 27th October 2009 in Parliament (see speech).
The Minister's MTBPS clearly articulates the commitment of our government to the key priority areas, as pronounced by the ruling party. The priority areas are; the creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods; enhancing the quality of education; improving health outcomes; fighting crime and corruption; rural development, including land reform and food production security. The MTBP policy statement has not canned job creation programme as articulated in the ANC's elections manifesto of 2009.
We also welcome the heightened commitment by our government to ensure that proper planning at all levels is implemented to ensure that government execute the ANC key priority programmes.
Despite the worldwide economic downturn that led to less collection of tax as had been anticipated, our government remains on course.
The recession offered the country a cause for sombre reflection on the need to do the right things to get our country back on track, including cancelling non essentials to essentials as directed by the ANC key priority areas. We are impressed with the government looking at carefully borrowing to fund government expenditure, also impressive is the emphasis on prudent spending and accountability by all public servants and public representatives at all levels of our system of government.
Whereas in other parts of the world spending is being cut and projects cancelled, we are able to continue our investment plans, because we entered the economic downturn with a budget surplus and a healthy fiscal position.
Whereas the response in other countries has been dominated by financial transfers to banks and other business, our spending growth is strongly driven by real physical investment in road and rail construction, new power stations, housing, water and sanitation systems, as well as the construction of the ten magnificent football stadiums which will be ready to welcome the world to the FIFA World cup next year.
We have a job to do and we are getting on with it.
Statement issued by Jackson Mthembu, African National Congress national spokesperson, October 27 2009
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