Phikwe residents expect more belt tightening

The nation has painted a gloomy picture for this year's budget with expectations that it will call for  more belt-tightening. The copper mining town does not expect much from the budget.

A local businessman, James Hughes, told Business Week that he expects the minister to announce a tight budget, adding that the next 12 months will be tough due to poor diamond sales. Selebi-Phikwe continues to struggle with a high unemployment rate due to the closure of companies, especially textile firms. Hughes said textile-manufacturing companies cannot survive in Selebi-Phikwe due to the location of the town and competition from other companies located near sea ports like Durban.