40+ Civil Society Organisations reject proposed increase in VAT: Tax the wealthy to invest in our future!
(Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba). Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba briefs Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa ahead of his forthcoming visit to the USA for the IMF World Bank Spring meeting and his meetings with the rating agencies at the Deputy President’s official residence OR Tambo House in Pretoria. South Africa. 18/04/2017. Siyabulela Duda
We are alarmed to hear that the Minister of Finance is proposing a 1% increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) to 15%.
In the light of a stagnant economy, growing debt and a further wave of job losses, we as civil society are taking up President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA call to engage his government in critical policy issues. The national budget is one of the most important of these.
An increase in VAT will mean less value for your buck; those with the least money will suffer the most. An increase in VAT will mean the unemployed will have to pay even more for their basic essentials. It is an attack on the poor that South Africa cannot afford. If an increase in VAT is a symbol of what the future holds under Ramaphosa it will mean harder times for South Africa’s poor.
We need state spending, not austerity!
In the context of a substantial revenue shortfall (R50,8bn) in 2017, and a budget deficit of 4.3% of GDP, it is easy to batter public opinion into believing that there is no alternative to austerity. However, as has been the case in Europe where austerity has been imposed, it neither resolved the debt crisis, nor did it do anything to stimulate the economy on a sustainable basis. In a society facing much greater social crises than in Europe, deeper austerity would precisely be the wrong medicine.
If government is serious about tackling youth unemployment then apart from land redistribution and a mass housing programme, the water crisis in the Western Cape suggests further approaches that can be used to realise hundreds and thousands of jobs in fighting climate change. In the same vein, investment in dealing with our transport and energy crisis through the roll out of expanded public transport and the expansion of socially owned renewable energy can absorb many young people into decent and useful work. Similarly, the employment of large numbers of community health workers could not only improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs, but also employ many poor women who in turn would contribute to the economy.
All of these interventions would have knock on effects in stimulating local industries and give them the opportunity to grow the small and medium enterprises – which government has committed to doing. This, in turn, can stimulate further job creation. Such a redistribution and job creation strategy requires not the cutting of expenditure, but a significant growth in expenditure. The financing can be realised through progressive tax reforms, and development financing mainly from government sources itself.
TAX the wealthy to invest in our future!
Government must abandon its austerity policies and adopt fiscal policies that redistribute wealth to meet basic needs and ensure a people centred growth path.
Some of the ways of raising revenue include increasing personal income tax on high income earners, increasing the corporate tax and implementing a carbon tax. Increasing, sin and sugar taxes should also be considered. All of this should make it possible to relieve the burden on the poor, and get rid of regressive tax policies in opposition to mainstream economists who are calling for VAT increases. In other words, we can meet the immediate needs of dealing with mass unemployment, redistribute wealth without bankrupting the state.
President Ramaphosa, there are alternatives. Use them!
Endorse the statement here
For more information contact Dominic on 0813094973
Endorsed by:
- #UniteBehind
- Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement SA.
- ACTION SUPPORT CENTRE
- Action Support Centre
- Africa Unite
- African Centre for Biodiversity
- Alternaitve Information & Development Centre (AIDC)
- amandla.mobi
- Bench Marks Foundation
- Botshabelo Unemployed Movement
- Children’s Resource Centre
- Come-Act Limpopo
- Csaawu
- CWAO
- Durban South Community Peace Builders
- Equal Education
- ESSET
- GIWUSA
- GroundWork
- Human Rights Development Initiative
- Institute for African Alternatives
- Judith Smith Development Services
- Lephalale Community Justice Movement
- Maokeng Advice And Resource Centre
- Mawubuye Land Rights Movement
- Mayine Azanian Movement
- Midrand Solidarity Economy, Education & communication cooperative
- National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW)
- Peoples Health Movement (PHM) SA
- Progressive Youth Movement
- REFUGEE SOCIAL SERVICES
- SALIPSWU
- SOUTH AFRICAN INFORMAL TRADERS ALLIANCE
- South Durban Community Environmental Alliance
- Southern Africa Green Revolutionary Council
- Tshintsha Amakhaya
- Unemployed People’s Movement
- United Front Western Cape
- Waterberg Environmental Justice Forum (WEJF )
- WATERBERG WOMEN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
- Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing(WIEGO)
- WoMin Alliance
We wish to pledge and registering our support and participation with regard to the VAT mustfall movement. We have also taken note of VAT increase without proper consideration and disadvantages may be caused.
From
Sibunye After-Care And Developmental Center.
Gauteng: Ekurhuleni
Springs
I reject vat on behalf of the masses in this country. This corrupt government are lying to the people that they care about them, when in fact all they doing is making people pay for their corruption and lack of proper administration of government. On the face of a deficit they gave themselves increases, we are not just paying for their luxury lifestyles, we are paying for their corruption, of stealing and robbing the state of funds that belong to the people. It is daylight robbery. They call it much needed funds, whilst the funds go into their pockets. When will the poor masses realise that for the last 20 odd years that we all being robbed of a better life and we continue to pay for the robbery by this government. They could have downsized an overly bloated public service and the cabinet itself. They could have frozen all their salaries for the next three or five years. Hell no they had to take the grain of rice out of the mouths of the poor masses who are struggling to put food on the table. They have the audacity to think the poor only eat rice, and pap. We will zero rate pap they say. The cheek and audacity of a corrupt government.
Protecting the poor by zero -rating basic foodstuffs like beans and brown bread? Those foods eaten alone lead to low-nutrition diets. The poor are condemned to eat poor. Please sir, May I have some meat?’ Patronising, disingenuous bullsh*t. The poor have to pay VAT on every services they access. VAT and fuel levies increase the cost of less basic food and services. It increases the cost of transport. It affects everything. Poor people do not exist in a happy bean-eating paradise. They have the same needs as every else, like transport, shoes, clothing… No amount of whitewash I going to change the fact that VAT will dramatically increase the poverty ofthw poor!
PHANTSI VAT INCREASE PHANTSI!!!!!!!!
PHANTSI VAT PHANTSI!!!!!!