WATCH: Lego Pravin Gordhan gives budget speech

Lego Batman may have toppled 50 Shades Darker at the box office, but Lego Pravin Gordhan may give the wealthy vigilante pause for thought with a budget that raises taxes on the rich.

Yesterday Gordhan announced a tax hike aimed at filling a R28-billion hole in the state's finances.

The hike will hit the rich particularly hard, including President Jacob Zuma, whose R2.87-million a year salary crosses the threshold of the new R1.5-million a year tax bracket and its marginal 45% rate.

Joining him - and the 100,000 other South Africans estimated to fall into the new super-tax bracket - will be:

• Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete with state salaries of R2.7-million each;
• Cabinet ministers, including Gordhan, who earn R2.3-million;
• Deputy ministers, on R1.9-million; and
• Provincial premiers, on R2.1-million.

With the economy stuttering and revenue collection falling, the increase is part of a string of hard-hitting increases in personal income tax intended to raise R16.5-billion in the 2017-2018 financial year.

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