Hero all around but not for the ANC!!

Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, gave his annual budget speech yesterday afternoon. From front page pictures, one can conclude that he is a hero having made sinners to pay more (by raising sin taxes)...The social grants went up, the health department has been allocated more money and busaries for educations has been boosted with loads of money (I'm sure you saw the figures, i dont have to spell them out to you)!

All around i'm happy with Manuel, but my personal tax is still more or less the same (eish!!). I thouhgt he would have spared me more than he did as i'm making drastic changes in my life and its gonna hit my pocket hard..!Anyway..its not about me, its about the country's economic well-being. Once more he turned to be the hero for most people in the country, including big profit companies (well, in some way). However, in the front page of The Times today (21 Feb) it appears that Zwelinzima Vavi was not happy with him at all. Vavi said that Manuel did not adhere to the policy directions of the ANC's Polokwane debate!But Manuel said that the budget should be evaluated against the party's 2004 election manifesto and not against the resolutions of Polokwane last year.

It would appear that Manuel has put his head on the "chopping block" but I think it would be foolish of the ANC to get rid of him...regardles of what the ANC says, Trevor is the man..!

PS: I'm still sad that he did not put more money in my pocket!!