All business
Yesterday was a brave performance by Trevor Manuel, announcing a "business as usual" pro-business budget in the face of huge populist pressure. He certainly gave increased expenditure to social causes, but probably not nearly enough to satisfy the thirst of the far left. There were few crumbs for embattled consumers either.

All in all, more of what we have come to expect from Manuel and his office. Disciplined, fiscally conservative budgets defined within a tight macro-economic structure. But this time it was delivered under new pressures. The key question now is; is there a place for Manuel post-2009?