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1 de mai. de 2026     fri: #travel_log    South-Africa @vanres74 206p09mar25#travel_log [10mar25] {09mar25 sun 19:20} (09mar25 sun 20:32) 

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USD $1 = R18.34 SA Rand (Mar 10, 22:27) 

  • Budget Crisis
  • VAT increase from 15% to 17% cancelled
  • Land Expropriation Law
  • SA risk to be expelled from African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA)
  • Afrikanner search for decentralized government

10 mar2025

series: Bloody's Legacy - 

In January, South Africa enacted the Expropriation Act, seeking to undo the legacy of apartheid, which created huge disparities in land ownership among its majority Black and minority White population.

Under apartheid, non-White South Africans were forcibly dispossessed from their lands for the benefit of Whites. Today, some three decades after racial segregation officially ended in the country, Black South Africans, who comprise over 80% of the population of 63 million, own only around 4% of private land.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/02/africa/south-africa-potential-trump-tariff-intl/index.html

South Africa is the largest beneficiary of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), a US trade agreement that provides preferential duty-free access to US markets for eligible Sub-Saharan African nations.
Some US lawmakers want those benefits withdrawn when AGOA is reviewed this year...

Kubheka told CNN that South Africa could be on the verge of losing its trade benefits with the US under AGOA.
“Based on the changes in trade policy and national interests of the US government, the possibility of changes and South Africa’s exclusion does exist,” he said.
To remain eligible for AGOA, a benefiting nation “must demonstrate respect for rule of law, human rights … (and) should also not seek to undermine US foreign policy interests,” according to requirements outlined on its website.
In a letter to Trump on February 11, US Rep. Andy Ogles and three other Republican congressmen called for South Africa’s duty-free access to the US market to be withdrawn and for diplomatic ties to be suspended, expressing disapproval of its land reforms, its alleged “vendetta against Israel” and its “embrace of China.”

Economist Ndu


"[Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) CEO Busi Mavuso] said that taxpayers also need to be realistic about South Africa’s situation.
“More tax is also going to be needed,” she said, adding that, without VAT, the options are limited.
“Higher personal or corporate tax rates just push economic activity outside of the country where taxes are lower, leaving revenue worse off.
“Some more narrow taxes could help; but in the absence of VAT increases, there is going to have to be creative thinking about expenditure savings,” she said.
The Wednesday 12 March budget will be the ultimate test as to whether the GNU can strike this balance.


Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana needs to find the revenue to fund the state’s spending plans, and there are very few options to do this. He previously opted for a VAT hike to 17%, but this was shot down by political partners within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
This left either cutting spending or finding other revenue sources—neither of which would be popular or easy to do

How much is VAT [value added tax] in South Africa?
The standard rate of VAT is 15%. Exports, certain foodstuffs, and other supplies are zero-rated, and certain supplies are exempt (mainly certain financial services, residential accommodation and public transport). Very few business transactions carried out in South Africa are not subject to VAT. 

Following political fallout over an article penned by President Cyril Ramaphosa criticising Trump and US ally Israel, Washington pulled approximately $430 million a year in funding from South Africa. This was mainly used in the fight against HIV, Mavuso said.
Last week, the USA pulled out of the Just Energy Transition deals, taking with it another $1 billion in committed funding.“This directly affects the funding of important projects in South Africa, and the government will have to pick up some of the slack,” Mavuso said.

English and Afrikaner colonists ruled South Africa until 1994 under a brutal system in which the black majority were deprived of political and economic rights.
The new law is intended to address historic inequalities in land ownership, with the minority white population still owning most farmland three decades after the end of apartheid.


Afrikaner Foundation executive director Ernst Roets and self-proclaimed protagonist for Afrikaner self-determination recently launched the Pioneer Initiative, a think tank that is purportedly aiming towards a 'more sustainable political dispensation for South Africa.'

Talking to IOL, the controversial figure who takes a right-winged stance said the initiative, which he announced over the weekend, has been well-received by a diverse number of people.
...
Decentralisation constitutes the handover of political and financial authority from central to local governments.

"Cape independence, a secessionist political movement that seeks the independence of the Western Cape province from South Africa, could benefit from such a system."

A departure from a centralised government in the country could open doors to federalism, devolution, local governance, delegation, deconcentration, and traditional leaderships.

Roets said that SA has been implementing race-based policies that the West is flirting with.


09mar2025

movie: silverton - cerco-fechado 


"Most South Africans get the short end of the stick when it comes to service delivery and services are not as forthcoming as it is in affluent areas - this is no secret. 

While already struggling to 
keep the lights on with 
high electricity prices and 
high food costs, the looming 
increase in value added tax (VAT)
remains a headache for all citizens. 


"VAT is the wrong way to increase revenue.
It is a regressive tax that disproportionately affects poor, low-income and middle-income families,” Herron said.

GOOD, like other parties, have made alternative proposals 
 including improved tax compliance which would boost SARS revenue by about R400 billion. 

“Improve tax anti-avoidance capacities at SARS. Reducing the tax credits threshold for retirement contributions which at R350,000 per year are too generous and make virtually all retirement contributions tax deductible, and then in the outer budget years implementing a wealth tax,” Herron suggested as alternative solutions to a VAT hike.

Godongwana has argued that there was little room to raise other taxes, and that ending medical tax credits or raising the corporate tax rate would. ?...

"VAT is the wrong way to inc

1 de mai. de 2026     fri: #travel_log    South-Africa @vanres74 206p09mar25#travel_log [03abr26] {09mar25 sun 19:20} (09mar25 sun 20:32) 
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