M&G’s business section floored me

It has taken a week for me to calm down enough to write this letter. I was disgusted by the lead story in Mail & Guardian Business (January 20). The author has no clue why the Brits voted for Brexit.

The main drivers of the vote were immigration and the belief that control of Britain was going to be totally in the hands of the European Union.

A classic lesson to all politicians is: do not allow voters to decide on policy.

Then I read with horror Judge Dennis Davis’s opinions on how he was directing the increased taxing of assets — some would say legalised theft. It looks at the “appropriateness of South Africa’s tax system” — basically, how much can be squeezed from the dwindling number of taxpayers.

Yes, we had the suggested balance between killing the golden goose and the tailspin led by the present government. President Jacob Zuma has wiped out way more value than the money squeezed out of taxpayers. He is using the public purse to fight his own battles in court. Where is his contribution?

Davis’s disgraceful assessment that he is “struck by the mean-spiritedness [of people]” shows how it is so easy to be comfortable on a big salary.

Davis goes on to say that it is “shocking” that people tell him they do not think they should hand over more of their assets when they die.

And then, “quite frankly”, more should be taken from owners of assets to be spent by the ANC.

Parliamentarians, judges and the like drawing fat salaries are a drain on the economy.

It does not matter what is given; it is still not enough. Until South Africa has a government that spends taxpayers’ money to uplift the people instead of for self-enrichment, the country is doomed to join those on its northern borders and go bust.