October 27, 2010 11:09 PM SAST
Finance Minister: South Africa's three-year budget plan
Finance Minister: South Africa's three-year budget plan
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan released South Africa's three-year budget policy plan on Wednesday. Following are some of the highlights.

GROWTH
-- Economic growth seen moderating in second half of 2010 and is projected at 3 percent for the year, before rising to 3.5 percent in 2011, 4.1 percent in 2012 and 4.4 percent by 2013.
INFLATION
-- Headline CPI is expected to remain below 6 percent over the next three years, within government's 3-6 target range, supported by a relatively buoyant exchange rate.
CURRENT ACCOUNT
-- The current account deficit, after narrowing sharply in 2009, is forecast to widen to 4.2 percent of GDP in 2010 and 4.9 percent in 2011, before rising to 5.8 percent by 2013.
BUDGET DEFICIT
-- South Africa's Treasury plans to trim the budget deficit to 5.3 percent of GDP in the 2010/11 financial year from a 6.7 percent gap in 2009/10.
DEBT
-- National government net loan debt projected to rise from 673 billion rand ($98 billion) at the end of 2009/10 to 1.3 trillion rand by 2013/14.
TAXES
-- Total government revenue, as percentage of GDP, seen rising marginally from an estimated 28.4 percent in 2010/11 to 28.7 percent in 2011/12, before reaching 29.1 percent in 2013/14.
SPENDING
-- Total government expenditure, as percentage of GDP, seen declining gradually over three years, from estimated 33.7 percent in 2010/11 to 32.3 percent in 2013/14.
INFRASTRUCTURE
-- Total public sector infrastructure investment seen at 811 billion rand over the next three years, down from previous figure of 845 billion rand.
REVENUE
-- Tax revenue seen recovering over three years in line with economic growth and is projected to rise from 679 billion rand in 2010/11 to 944 billion rand in 2013/14.
TAX
-- Government says it will consider changes to tax policy, including higher taxes, if the current mix of tax instruments do not provide sufficient resources.
JOB CREATION
-- Government sets aside 6 billion rand from 2011/12 to 2013/14 for projects to help spur job creation among youth.
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