The African National Congress (ANC) on Wednesday welcomed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s medium-term budget policy statement, with the party’s secretary general Gwede Mantashe saying he did “relatively well under the circumstances”.

Speaking from Parliament, Mantashe said he was impressed that government would sustain its spending on both higher and basic education.

“I think money put in…must reassure students that this commitment isn’t just lip service, it is a commitment,” said Mantashe.

“The minister of finance is being systematic in meeting the demands of students, but the focus is on the poor.”