LISTEN: Reactions to Gordhan's mini-budget speech
An economics professor at Wits says South Africans should brace themselves for a rise in taxes next year.
Jannie Rossouw has been reacting to the mini-budget tabled by Finance Minister - Pravin Gordhan.
Rossouw says the budget policy statement was balanced.
"The minister was quite honest in the challenges facing SA. These are challenging circumstances. South Africans must prepare themselves for R28-billion of tax increases in the February budget next year - so this is not a time to make new commitments, or take on new financial strain," he said.
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Gordhan said R43-billion is projected to be collected by government in the near future.
Politicians who were in Parliament have also been giving their reaction to the speech.
The ANC's Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe, says government should find a sustainable long-term solution to the fees crisis.
During his budget speech - Gordhan made strong statements about corruption - citing one of the resolutions taken at the ANC's Polokwane conference on corruption.
Gordhan is being taken to court next month by the NPA for alleged fraud - a charge that some in the ANC, and those from opposition parties as well as civil society - say is trumped up and politically-motivated.
He wrapped up his speech with the following warning: "Lions that fail to work as a team will struggle to bring down even a limping buffalo."