He is expected to give a balanced view on whether the provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed any growth, or declined, following the impact of Covid-19, which affected the country's economy in the past two years.

The Northern Cape - just like other provinces in Central South Africa - has been battling what is known as the triple challenge of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. However, it remains to be seen if, during the allocation of the budget to different departments, Vosloo will present a clear plan to tackle issues such as the stagnant economy.

His budget comes mere days after premier Zamani Saul's State of the Province Address (Sopa).

In his Sopa, Saul announced that as far as the economy and related factors are concerned, there is the severely debilitating impact that Covid-19 has on the economy of the province.

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He said the formal sector lost about 28 000 jobs in Quarter 3 of 2021, compared to Q3 of 2020. The trend was observed in South Africa.

"About 70% of the industries experienced a decline at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Increases were observed in most industries except construction and transport that shed about 9 000 and 1 000 jobs respectively between Q2:2021 and Q3:2021, Northern Cape’s official unemployment rate decreased by 3,2 percent to 24,9% in Q3:2021 compared to Q2:2021, expanded unemployment in the Northern Cape decreased by 1,2 percentage points to 49,1% in Q3:2021, compared to Q2:2021," he added.

Meanwhile, the Statistician General, Risenga Maluleke, on Tuesday announced that the South African economy grew by 1,2% in Q4:2021 (October–December), taking the annual rate for 2021 to 4,9%.

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