South Africa's National Treasury said on Wednesday that this fiscal year's budget deficit would be wider and public debt higher after it was forced to backtrack on a proposed increase in value-added tax (VAT).

Here are five other important things happening in and affecting South Africa today:

President Donald Trump’s tax and immigration bill could add $2.3 trillion to the deficit over 10 years. Trump hosted the president of South Africa at the White House. The Justice Department is ending police reform deals with two cities.

Mtambo CAPE TOWN (Reuters) -South Africa made only minor adjustments to its spending plans and deficit projections in a third budget presented on Wednesday that was overshadowed by a meeting between its president and U.

South Africa doesn't have the funds to cover the over $430 million shortfall caused by the Trump administration's cuts in foreign aid, the country's finance minister said Wednesday. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana spoke to Parliament while presenting an updated budget — one without the value-added tax increases that had sparked public outcry and fierce disagreement among parties in the ruling coalition.

South Africa’s second-biggest political party the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday said it “cautiously supports” the new budget presented by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana after rejecting two previous versions.

The education sector will receive a substantial R1.04 trillion over the next three years, cementing its position as a government priority.

South Africa’s National Treasury is considering raising additional borrowing in its latest rendition of the budget, to be delivered on Wednesday, to cover a revenue shortfall after a plan to increase taxes was scrapped.

While the reversal of the VAT hike provides relief to citizens facing mounting living costs, the introduction of fuel levy increases has raised concerns about the impact on household budgets amidst an already challenging economic landscape.