Another sugar-coated budget

Today, our finance minister will give his budget speech with more of the same: increases in taxes. There might even be the newly created sugar tax, sugar-coated as to protect us from obesity.

We all know it is just another cunning move to collect more taxes. But what do taxpayers get from all the taxes collected? I can honestly not think of any government department or state-owned entity that is really performing well except, maybe, finance – collecting our taxes!

It seems that the more the budget grows the worse corruption and fund mismanagement get. There is no one protecting the interests of the taxpayer. The opposition parties will complain that more money should have been allocated to this or that service and considering the state of the economy, the budget is acceptable. They will not oppose any tax increases.

Every year, the finance minister will tell everyone to tighten their belts, that corruption will be stopped and ministers have to be accountable for budgets. Was anyone charged for corruption or dismissed for the misappropriation of government funds this past three years ? It’s all a lot of hot air and no action.

So my question, again, who will protect us, the taxpayers? Only we can do it. We cannot rely on political parties. We need to form strong apolitical civic organisations or expand current ones with representatives in all the cities and towns to fight all this corruption and nepotism.

Let’s start to fight back – be vocal, use social media or join Corruption Watch, Save South Africa or AfriForum. Drikus van der Hoven, Springs

Send us your letter We publish letters that come with full name, address and telephone number even if you want to use a pseudonym. letters@citizen.co.za, fax 010-492-5386 or PO Box 43069 Industria 2042