Gordhan: Economic growth needs to improve
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says it is very difficult to predict the impact his pending fraud case could have on the South African economy.
Speaking during a a finance briefing at the office of the KZN Premier on Tuesday Gordhan, who is busy preparing the mid-term budget speech, said the fraud case and the suspicious dealings by the controversial Gupta family are not helping the current economic situation.
Gordhan is expected to deliver the mid-term budget speech in parliament next week and said that although it's hard to predict how the economy will perform, the country's economic growth needs to improve so that enough revenue can be collected for expenditure.
He says he might present a revised figure for projected economic growth after it was forecast between 0.6 and 0.9 percent in February.
Gordhan refused to answer questions relating to the charges levelled against him by the NPA and told journalists he wasn't there to talk about himself, since the matter is sub judice.
Meanwhile the minister will tomorrow address the 6th UASA National Congress on the state of the economy and the collaborative efforts by social partners in trying to avoid a ratings downgrade by international ratings agencies.