From time to time the government, like most other participants in the economy, must make use of credit to balance its books. The government's borrowing power is, however, restricted by the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999, (previously by the Exchequer Act 1975, (Act No. 66 of 1975). This Act allows national government to borrow money to:• finance the national budget deficit (i.e., the difference between revenue and expenditure of national government);• refinance maturing debt or a loan redeemed before the maturity date;• obtain foreign currency;• maintain credit balances on a bank account of the National Revenue Fund; and• regulate the domestic monetary situation should the necessity arise.​