Cape Town - The response of Fin24 users to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's call for input on the budget has been overwhelming. Many ordinary South Africans have clearly given the matter much thought. One of them is Barry Eslick, who has definite ideas on a number of topics. He writes:
Tax - do lifestyle audits of politicians
Taxpayers will get really riled up if taxes are increased. There seems to be a lot of evidence of billions of rands of taxpayers money used for corrupt purposes.
If Mr Gordhan was to do lifestyle audits of politicians, national, provincial and municipal, this theft could be reduced substantially if the perpetrators can be brought to book.
It could even result in taxes being reduced. Otherwise, we will continue throwing money into the corrupt black hole and next year the increases will continue.
Education - why pander to 'young terrorists'?
Another point, my children now have children of their own, so why should older folk be required to contribute to free education?
The students (are they all students?) have used damage to property, theft and arson to get their way and the ANC have still gone out of their way to pander to these young terrorists.
They are not (yet) wage earners, yet they demand free education.
E-tolls - why are they subject to VAT?
As to funding of roads - tolling does little to fill the gap. The fuel levy should cover these costs and more, but this stealth tax is being thrown into the fiscus.
Why are the e-tolls subject to VAT? This is a tax on a tax (although I will fight tooth and nail to NEVER pay etolls.) It is also time that the road accident fund and its gravy train is investigated. These folks are ripping us off. (My wife used to work for one of the "experts" and her charges were exorbitant.)
Plastic bags and sin taxes
The plastic bag tax should be used to assist the only obvious recyclers - those poor guys pulling trolleys along our roads for a pittance.
The "sin" taxes should also be ringfenced for the Department of Health as well as the sugar tax (if Gordhan is bold enough to introduce it).
This is your chance to make your voice count: send us your budget tips and we'll make sure the finance minister receives them.
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