Why pay taxes to thieves?

24 October 2014 - 02:25 By The Times Readers
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Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. File photo.
Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene. File photo.
Image: Gallo Images / Nardus Engelbrecht

The government admits we lose R30-billion a year to corruption, but our finance minister wants to increase taxes on an already overtaxed middle class to raise R27-billion over the next two years.

We have 16 million citizens receiving social grants, costing us R109-billion per year. We have 25.5% unemployment, our pass rate is 30%, there are close to 47 murders per day in our country and our growth rate is 1.7%. How dare this government demand more from us?

Around 3.3 million South Africans are paying 99% of all income tax and receiving very little in return.

We are forced to hire private security, see private doctors and pay fees for private schools.

The electorate who receive food parcels and grants are constantly reminded how shocking apartheid was in order to keep the fat cats in power. Our past was evil, but so is our present.

It is time for a middle class revolution.

Dave Harris, Craighall Park

The ANC enjoys grossly inflated salaries, luxury houses, big cars and more. Do any of them care that many of their voters sleep in shop doorways? It seems not.

Government must reform itself. But don't hold your breath. It is easier to make it a race issue, blame everyone else and keep taking the money.

Dermod Gloster, Cape Town

Even if Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene sucks the last drops of blood from taxpayers, it will not fix the "unauthorised expenditure" of billions by the ANC.

If Nene wants to rescue the economy, there can be no more R1-million cars, blue light convoys, chartered flights, multimillion-rand upgrades to politicians' homes, busing people to rallies and so on. Arrest the thieves and taxes will be safe.

Jack, by e-mail

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