Manuel urged to tackle power crisis head on

Finance Minister Trevor Manual will deliver his budget speech later today

Most South Africans are urging Finance Minister Trevor Manuel to tackle the electricity crisis head on in his budget speech later today.

The DA has suggested setting aside R50 billion over the next five years to help Eskom finance its electricity expansion programme. However, poverty alleviation and job creation are also upper-most in the minds of most of most South Africans.

Economists say Manuel will need to perform miracles if he is to fulfill all the expectations of those eagerly anticipating his 2008 budget. Last year, Manuel put R8.5 billion in tax payers' pockets. Economists doubt he will be that generous this year.