Mantashe: SA will be in good hands when budget 3.0 is tabled

JOHANNESBURG - Acting President Gwede Mantashe said the country will be in good hands on Wednesday when National Treasury makes a third attempt to table the highly anticipated budget at the National Assembly.

Mantashe is holding the fort in the absence of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is preparing to meet with his United States (US) counterpart, Donald Trump, in Washington later.

ALSO READ: Budget 3.0: Godongwana's moment of truth

Ramaphosa will be joined by four ministers, including Minister of Trade, Parks Tau and Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is also out of the country for the South Africa-France Investment Conference, selling brand South Africa to investors.

Mantashe said the executive will divide and conquer, with clear marching orders in place on the global and domestic stage.

"When I act, I take full responsibility. I don’t act half, so this is not diminishing the budget. The minister of finance has the responsibility to deliver the budget, and he will do that. Even when the president is there, he doesn't comment on the presentation of the budget. The minister of finance is there."