Thousands respond to Tito's call for budget input

Thousands of people responded to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's call for input for his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement which he will present to Parliament on Wednesday.

Let us do something unusual which will annoy the Establishment. If you were Minister of Finance, what would you announce on Wednesday next week. It is time for the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). Over to you. Don’t tell the Establishment about this tweet!!
— Tito Mboweni (@tito_mboweni) October 19, 2018

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela suggested a VAT exemption for chicken and many people urged the minister to cut government spending on government.

#DearMinisterMboweni. Thanks for being consistently democratic. I’d announce VAT exemption for chicken, it’s eaten more by the poor than many VAT insulated items; reduce perks for ministers,MPs/senior public employees and invest in enterprise-development and inequality reduction
— Prof Thuli Madonsela #KindnessBuilds (@ThuliMadonsela3) October 20, 2018

1. Cut the fat from the Executive. No need for Business class travel for flights shorter than 3hrs.
2. Cut the ministerial/department staff that travel with ministers to Kapa.
3. Tax exemption for books and sanitary towels.
4. Look at Fuel tax/levy structure.
— Makashule Gana - RISE Mzansi🇿🇦 (@Makashule) October 20, 2018

Massively reduce state spending on https://t.co/OpRU3OYpgX more subsidised vehicles,homes and https://t.co/wBFIf9oW4O more blue light brigades.must travel in same traffic chaos that we do and experience same service delivery.that way they may actually try to fix these problems
— Prevski22 🇿🇦 (@Prevski22) October 20, 2018

Cut the size of the cabinet in half. Cut ministers' salaries. Cut off their non-essential perks. Keep a tighter reign on local government expenditure!!!
— MT (@MTimmal) October 20, 2018

Half size of cabinet
Sell SAA
Sell ministerial houses
Fire and prosecute corrupt employees
SO: more than enough money then not to raise taxes/VAT
— Alice. Frikken Alice. 🚜🎗️ (@frikken_alice) October 20, 2018

There was a suggestion that prisoners should pay for their own incarceration.

There were also calls for VAT to be removed on books and women's sanitary products.

If the government can pay for contraceptives and take care of babies why can't it provides sanitary towels Women need those things.
— AFRIKAYLA (@Afri_kayla) October 20, 2018

Sindile Ndisile took time to work on her input.