Honourable Speaker, this has been a challenging budget to prepare, under difficult economic circumstances. The resources at our disposal are limited. Our economic growth initiatives have to be intensified. Mindful of these circumstances, Stefan Schoeman of Johannesburg wrote, in response to the budget tips campaign, only just to wish me all the best for what he described as a daunting task. Thank you, Stefan.

Preparing a budget under difficult circumstances is a reminder that our public services are many and varied, and that we rely on the efforts and good judgement of many thousands of public servants, teachers, health practitioners and law enforcement officers, every day. And our economy comprises a great diversity of enterprises, factories, mines, service centres and shop-floors, welfare organisations, trade unions and industry associations. Our collective future depends on the energy and enterprise of all of us.

The 2015 Budget takes forward our National Development Plan and medium term strategic framework, recognising that the gains of our democracy have to be shared more equally and our economy has to be given greater impetus.

Allow me to thank you, Mister President, for your guidance and support. My appreciation goes to Mister Deputy President for his wise counsel. I would also like to thank my Cabinet colleagues for their cooperation and support.

Members of the Ministers’ Committee on the Budget, including Deputy Minister Jonas, have been especially generous in their time and wise advice.

I also wish to thank Provincial Premiers and Finance MECs, and Municipal Mayors, who share our fiscal and financial responsibilities.

I know that Members of the House will join me in expressing appreciation to:

Allow me also to thank my family for their invaluable support.

Honourable Speaker, I hereby table before the House:

Honourable Speaker, and Members of the House – these are our budget proposals, and I look forward to further engagement through our committees and the Parliamentary budget process. I am especially grateful to the chairs of the finance and appropriation committees, the Honourable Mr Carrim and Mr de Beer, Mr Mashatile and Mr Mohai, who have responsibility for steering consideration of the Division of Revenue Bill and the Appropriation Bill, and the revenue bills which will be tabled later in the year.

Preparation of the budget is the outcome of inputs and efforts of countless people, in Treasury, in government departments, in provinces and municipalities and in our public entities.

Implementation of the budget, Honourable Speaker, is the collective outcome of the activities of all South Africans: workers and businesses who contribute to economic activity, investors who make growth possible, savers and taxpayers, officials and service providers, protectors, advisors, those who work on our farms, those who care for the young and elderly.

It is my privilege to table these proposals for the consideration of all South Africans, and to reaffirm our commitment to work together with all South Africans in pursuing a better future.