I am surprised that someone responsible for a country's finance does not realise that in anything that negatively effects the economy, it is always the very poor who carry the burden. e.g. a person who earns a good income, who employs a live in maid, and has regular garden help. If this person loses his job, then so does the maid, and the garden help. When the middle class have to tighten their belts, then it is the very poor who suffer, for it is the middle class that provides income and sustenance for the poor.

You're missing the big picture Author: rosswg. When the middle class lose their jobs the have the added disadvantage of a huge debt hanging on their heads, averaging R750 000! The poor go (debt free) back to their RDP house or informal shack and don't have the added daunting threat of huge debts. But at the end of the day we all suffer.