Budget in a Nutshell

REVENUE: Main budget revenue for 2006/2007 forecast at R446bn from R411bn in 2005/2006.
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One in the eye for the really poor
Trevor Manuel is fond of quoting Steve Tshwete saying: "I will not praise a fish for swimming." With Manuel at the helm, we have come to expect a job well done - and rightly so.
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Largesse was largely a reward for past policies
Trevor Manuel rejected the temptation to unveil a populist budget despite an imminent election and chose instead to stay the course with a mixture of social duty woven into what is essentially a free-market model
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Champing at the bit
Like a racehorse champing at the bit while waiting for the rest of government to reach the starting gate, Trevor Manuel has held back from giving a free rein to spending in his 10th budget as finance minister.
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