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All about the jobs

The budget boosts public spending and reduces taxes but cutting unemployment will be the key test

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's budget offered a generous formula for fuelling growth and cutting taxes without letting inflation rip. He called it 'More for all': a balancing act between maintaining business confidence and promoting job-creating growth. Most independent economists agree with Manuel's 23 February budget forecast of gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 4 to 4.5 per cent this year. And most back his plans for higher public spending, now increased to 418 billion rand (US$73 bn.) from R370 bn. in 2004-2005....

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All about the jobs

The budget boosts public spending and reduces taxes but cutting unemployment will be the key test

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