Why must we pay for corruption?

WHILE the 2018 national Budget seemingly represents steps towards stabilising national debt caused by various factors such as the ailing economy, poor management and wasteful expenditure at South Africa’s state-owned enterprises, tender-related fraud and corruption, among others, an increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) will have a devastating effect on the less privileged and vulnerable citizens of South Africa.

Although the Budget claims that social grants have been increased and the zero-rating of basic foodstuffs will help in balancing the negative impact, the overall effects will be disastrous for the working class and unemployed as VAT affects the cost of almost everything.

Most definitely, the poor households will experience additional hardship as salaries and wages do not keep up with all these increases.

The tax proposals announced by Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba are designed to increase revenue collection to reduce the Budget deficit.

However, why should South African citizens pay for the gross plunder, blunder and misdemeanours of some officials in the government?

The starting point should be to cut the high ministerial salaries, perks and government expenditure before resorting to a VAT hike as most government ministers were in power when the “looting” of state coffers was taking place.

How did former president Jacob Zuma survive so many motions of no-confidence votes?

Why didn’t MPs vote honestly according to their consciences?

The “tough, but hopeful Budget”, with “difficult, but necessary trade-offs” would not help to bridge the gap between the rich and poor, nation-building and transformation.

MOHAMED SAEED

Pietermaritzburg