The western media has been reporting on Xi Jingping’s supposed ideological turn on bringing prosperity to all of China’s people. But his rule has seen sustained and large tax cuts on the wealthy.
Governments worldwide have put in place economic and tax relief measures to mitigate the impact on businesses and workers of drastic public health measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
South Africans debating the zero rating of certain products for VAT purposes must realise it isn’t a panacea for poor people and should be accompanied by other policies.
The review of South Africa’s list of zero rated VAT items faces a tricky challenge of shielding the poor while ensuring that the relief isn’t exploited.
South Africa’s 2018 budget does not go far enough. Perhaps finance minister, Malusi Gigaba was caught up in the euphoria of the widely welcomed state of the nation address by Cyril Ramaphosa.
In his 2017/18 budget speech, South Africa’s finance minister Pravin Gordhan opted to focus on taxing high income earners to find desperately needed money.