2022/23 BUDGET SPEECH BY MINISTER OF FINANCE ENOCH GODONGWANA
23 February 2022
Honourable Speaker;  
His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa; 
His Excellency, the Deputy President David Mabuza;  
Cabinet Colleagues; 
Members of the Executive Committees for Finance in the provinces; 
Honourable Members; 
Finance Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
The Governor of the South African Reserve Bank; 
The Commissioner of the South African Revenue Services; 
Fellow South Africans:

South Africa’s return to Lockdown Alert Level 1 at the beginning of October 2021 was accompanied by the removal of most remaining restrictions on economic activity and included a relaxation of the curfew, the removal of most limitations relating to the sale of alcohol and the relaxation of provisions relating to political, social and religious gatherings. It is too soon for the impact of these changes to be reflected in the data included in this analysis.

Monday, 25 October 2021: In its state of the system briefing today, Eskom shared with the public its plan to continue with its accelerated maintenance programme during the summer period, the peak maintenance season. Since September, Eskom has increased its planned maintenance programme to an average 5 500MW of capacity. While this is comparable to the amount of maintenance carried out in the period between September 2020 and March 2021, it is almost double the average maintenance carried out in the same period in September 2019 to April 2020.

Monetary and financial stability challenges to central banks in the wake of COVID-19, a panel discussion Friday, 22 October 2021 17:00–18:15 (CEST)

HIGHLIGHTS

South Africa
1. The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases eased to 809 on 3 October from a recent peak of 26 485 on 3 July.
2. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a move to Level 1 lockdown restrictions on 30 September.
3. The rand weakened to R15,2525/US1 on 30 September from R14,0601/$1 on 10 September.
4. The trade weighted rand averaged 89,11 in September from 87,79 in August, 89,4 in July, 92,93 in June, 90,96 in May, 89,7
in April, 86,5 in March, 86,88 in February and 84,56 in January.
5. The volatility in the trade weighted rand eased to 5,67% in September from 6,44% in August, 4,6% in July, 4,71% in June,
4,34% in May and 2,35% in April.
6. The Policy Uncertainty Index (PUI) compiled by the North West University (NWU) Business School rose to 58,2 in the third
quarter from 50,3 in the second quarter 2021, 55,2 in the first quarter 2021 and a record 59,8 in the first quarter 2020.
7. The Quarterly Employment Statistics showed that there was a 86 000 q/q decline in the second quarter 2021 and formal
non-farm employment was 668 000 less than in the fourth quarter 2019.
8. Gross earnings rose by 10,9% y/y in the second quarter after a 1,9% y/y drop in the first quarter.
9. The number of liquidations eased to 165 in August from 216 in March after easing by 0,3% in 2020 to 2 035.
10. There were 268 insolvencies in July after only two insolvencies in April and declining by 38,5% in 2020 to 1 852.
11. The number of tourists rose to 178 727 in June from 90 165 in February, while overseas tourists increased to 24 548 from 10 745.

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Dear B4SA and business colleagues,

While we welcome the news that the country has moved to adjusted level two for the relief it will provide to many individuals and businesses, we would urge renewed caution in the face of the forthcoming fourth wave.

It is tempting, when regulations are relaxed, to let down our guards, but we need to be just as vigilant about all of the non-pharmaceutical interventions to prevent infection, and continue to pursue vaccination, ventilation, masking, social distancing and hand hygiene in every situation we find ourselves in.

The AUC and the AUDA-NEPAD launch a series of regional virtual workshops.
Invitation to the Southern Africa Regional Africa Creates Jobs Virtual Workshop.

The African Union Commission and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), held the inaugural “Africa Talks Jobs (ATJ)” in 2017, as a dialogue platform to develop a continental answer to youth employment and skills promotion. Amongst the key partners mobilised was Business Africa as the continental body representing private sector employers. To date, through this partnership, efforts are underway to continue to strengthen public and private sector partnerships to improve employment prospects for youth. In 2019, stakeholders at the Africa Talks Jobs Conference agreed to re-orientate the dialogue towards ‘Africa Creates Jobs’ in the spirit of mobilizing and further strengthening partnerships to transform and scale up skills development delivery and employment
creation.

Address by President of BUSA to AGM on 30th August 2021

Honorable Enoch Godongwana congratulations on your appointment as the Minister of Finance and thank you for agreeing to be our guest speaker today. I also welcome the Treasury DG Dondo Mogajane.

BUSA Vice President Martin Kingston and Board Members, CEO Cas Coovadia, member organisations, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen.

Three years ago, you entrusted me with the stewardship of leading the business community, electing me BUSA President at a very critical time in a free SA. I succeeded the larger-than-life Jabu Mabuza who recommended me to the role. It fills me with deep pain and remorse that he is no more

BUSA statement on the newly elected leadership President Bonang Mohale and Vice President Adrian Gore.

BUSA convened its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 30th August 2021. The terms of office of the organisation’s President and Vice-President came to an end at the AGM and we wish Sipho Pityana and Martin Kingston respectively farewell. The AGM recognised and applauded their sterling contribution to BUSA and organised business.

1. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) invites suitably qualified and experienced Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to apply for Discretionary Grant funding to develop. Assessment Instruments/Tools for the sector’s registered occupational qualifications.