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Johannesburg - With tax and the fuel levy going up, employed South Africans are in for a difficult time, DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane said on Wednesday.
Maimane said in reaction to Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene's budget tabled in Parliament: "Increases in tax and the fuel levy will affect working South Africans who also use the roads. We are in for a difficult period."
Nene announced some personal income tax increases, a raise of the general fuel levy, as well as the Road Accident Fund (RAF) levy, the electricity levy and increased excise duties.
Consolidated government spending was expected to be R1.35trn and revenue about R1.2trn. GDP was projected to grow from 2% in 2015 to 2.4% in 2016 and 3% in 2017.
'More of the same, but you will pay more'
"That budget speech says is one short nutshell: 'We're going to do more of the same, but South Africans are going to be paying more for it'," he told Fin24.
"One percent tax revenue doesn't collect enough revenue," he said, adding that Eskom should be slit up, cabinet numbers should be cut and that there should be more transparency with the public.
"Then you wouldn't need to talk about all these person taxes," he said. "South Africans sitting at home today have to face increased personal tax, increased fuel levies, [and] increased Road Accident Fund levy."
Listen to the full interview with Fin24:
