‘WHAT A LOAD OF B.S!’

Public react to Budget Speech

On Monday, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr Thapelo Matsheka, delivered the country’s Budget Speech.

The point of such a speech is to outline government’s spending plan for the upcoming financial year.

Held every year on the first Monday of February, the event is usually followed with much anticipation, debated and dissected in equal measure by the rich and poor alike.

However, as Voice Money found out when we hit the streets of GC and Ghetto on Tuesday, a seemingly disillusioned public were decidedly unimpressed with what Matsheka had to say.

THAPELO AMOS (44)

I am a vendor so I was in town the whole of yesterday I did not listen to the speech. When I got home, I turned on my radio and television with the hope of listening to the repeat but it was not aired. I suggest they air a repeat so those who did not have the chance of listening to it can do so.

Now I am clueless of what was said, I peeped in the Daily News paper and it was written in English so it was hard to understand. What I picked is the increment of tax, which is not fair to Batswana. We are already suffering, so increasing tax is like killing us. We are already depressed with the Covid-19 calamity which left us broke. Even the P1 000 we get from LEA is not enough.

ELIJAH NKHWA (56)

I tried to listen but I could not get any word because it was delivered in English. I wish next time they use Setswana so we can all understand. In one of the radio stations, they were trying to summarise in Setswana and still I didn’t pick anything because they were only touching here and there. It’s very frustrating!

TSHIAMO LETSHOLO (39)

I liked the fact that the biggest portion was taken to education. The government should buy gadgets for the children to learn from home. Our Ministers are not even 100 in number yet they decided to have a virtual budget speech. Meanwhile, our students are more than 100 but they go to school which exposes them to Covid-19.

Increasing tax to 14 percent is going to kill Batswana. Government should have left it at 12 percent because already people are struggling.

GAEBAPE KAGISANO TSHEPISO (35)

I did not listen to it, even now, I am blank of what was said. I work here in town so there was no how I could have listened to it. I am waiting to hear the repeat after working hours when I am at home. Anyway, it doesn’t really affect me – I don’t even understand most of what is said, it’s too long and boring.

THABO MONTHE (25)

I have never followed the Budget Speech and did not listen to it this year either. It is for the public sector and benefits them only! I heard people saying prices have been hiked and I ask myself why since people are not getting anything and many are unemployed. I did not bother myself with listening to the radio because I was expecting disappointment as usual. If it was done properly and fairly then I could take an interest in it.

SETH MADISA (53)

I work at Safari Distribution as a Merchandiser and that is within the informal sector. We have heard the Minister’s speech and it is very difficult for us as Covid-19 has really affected us. There are so many levies that have been increased but we as the private sector have not had any salary increment since last year. Now we are not sure when we will be retrenched as our country’s economy is in shambles.

Rre Matsheka was supposed to address these key points as we are the one’s struggling but he failed to do so!

KATLEGO RAESI (21)

The point of such a speech is to outline government’s spending plan for the up-coming FINANCIAL YEAR

Unfortunately, I did not get to listen to or watch the Budget Speech. I just came across a few points from social media. The car imports levy struck me hard because we, as up and coming youngsters, dream of owning affordable cars from Mogoditshane. This levy imposed on us means we are doomed, as there is not much income to meet those demands.

KATLO MOTUBUDI (24)

I was listening to the Budget Speech but I did not understand anything as it was being delivered in English. I feel they could have used our own language (Setswana) as the speech is for Batswana. Some people in remote areas did not understand what was being talked about either.

GAOGELWE MAFIFI (50)

We have heard the minister’s speech and he touched on many things but the biggest problem we have in the country is implementation. They are talking about a stimulus recovery plan as the economy has fallen and the funds have been allocated to different sectors of government but there is high corruption in the country hence we are not going to benefit anything.

Street vendors like us are mostly affected by these lockdowns and curfews but the Minister’s salaries do not change. We used the little we have to feed our families and we are left with nothing.

However, some of the aspects in the minister’s delivery are commendable. He talked of Agriculture, youth grants and the National Development Plan (NDP) 11 that is supposed to construct hospitals, schools and roads but because of the outbreak of Covid-19, they have to be put on hold for the greater good of the country.

OARABILE LESOLEBE (31)

For me, I think the Budget Speech was well delivered to a certain extent. The problem is that these initiatives that are always laid upon us are never implemented. Let me give a typical example: one would visit these government offices and there will be so many requirements that you would even fail to fulfill the dreams of starting up a business.