
Duma Gqubule weighs in on canned VAT increase
JOHANNESBURG - South Africans won't be paying more for VAT as previously proposed.
That's because Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has backtracked on the tax increase.
The decision follows consultations and recommendations from Parliamentary committees.
Godongwana will now table a Rates Bill to ensure that VAT remains at 15%.
According to economist Duma Gqubule, the basic goal of budget fiscal and monetary policy is to stimulate economic growth and employment creation.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
2 hours ago
- The South African
'No food, job or phones': Afrikaner 'refugee' family 'stranded' in US
An Afrikaner 'refugee' family have reportedly been left stranded in the US, and is appealing for help on Facebook. The startling revelation was made by a South African expat on TikTok. Two groups of white South Africans have taken up 'refugee status' in the US in recent weeks, as part of a programme open to 'persecuted' people. On her TikTok account, South African expat @catmpt revealed that she had come across an Afrikaner 'refugee' family in dire need of help. The family of four was reportedly stranded at a hotel in Montana without food, money, or a cellphone. Instead, they had reached out to a Facebook group for help. The woman said of the 'refugees': 'They were understanding that they would be arriving here for complete assistance. People thought they would be arriving at a house, a job, medical insurance, and other things. It isn't that way at all. She added: 'Because of the political situation, they are really struggling to get jobs'. The woman revealed that she had left South Africa more than a decade ago, but had gone through a lengthy process. She also criticised Afrikaner 'refugees' for having unrealistic expectations. She continued, 'One side of me is like, 'F**k that. 'My husband and I went through all of the red tape, and we got our visas…we've got our green card. We've been here ten years. We did everything the right way. 'Here, these people, regardless of what they were promised, just came here expecting everything'. @catpmt What would you do? #traumatok #southafricanrefugees #southafricatiktok #tsek #anxiety #livingintheusa ♬ original sound – Cat's Tales Last month, the Department of International Relations (DIRCO) stated that South African 'refugees' in the US would not have access to any diplomatic assistance whilst abroad. The 'persecuted' South Africans would instead be assisted by the US Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP), which was signed as an Executive Order by President Donald Trump. As part of the Afrikaner Act, the group was also given Priority-2 refugee status, which provides them with start-up assistance like money, jobs, and even a house. According to DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, refugees 'simply can't return home for a braai and go back'. He added: 'Even the word itself refugee suggests that you are seeking refuge from a particular country. 'You can't be seeking refugee status, then go back home, have a braai, then go back. It defeats the purpose of you being protected and a refugee of a particular country,' he said For Afrikaner 'refugees' hoping to return home willingly for good, voluntary repatriation is always an option. Organisations like the UNHCR help those who wish to travel back to their countries by providing financial assistance. DIRCO added that 'refugees' would be welcomed back as citizens. However, they would have to revoke their status in order for this to happen. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .


Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Various SA foundations warm up to Ramaphosa's announcement of a National Dialogue
JOHANNESBURG - Various foundations have noted with gratitude President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of the commencement of a National Dialogue. The organisations, including the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, were not part of Ramaphosa's announcement on Tuesday night. He named 31 prominent South Africans from varying sectors of society, who will be championing and guiding the national convention. A national dialogue preparatory committee says South Africans have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reclaim the country's agency. ALSO READ: National dialogue will be an important forum to set out mandate & term of GNU - political analyst They've encouraged everyday South Africans to participate in the event, aimed at shaping and recreating the country's future, adding that the venture has to be led by citizens and not the government in order to close the gap between the two. More than 50 organisations backed the foundations' call for a dialogue last year. Meanwhile, the government says the president's eminent persons group will be a fluid structure, with more names likely to be added along the way It also notes the importance of obsessing over the mission of the dialogue as opposed to individuals associated with it.


The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
DJ Zinhle and GalxBoy's boss join Bathu on 'Walk Your Journey'
This year's edition of 'Walk Your Journey' series kicked off on Wednesday at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. From left to right: Theo Baloyi, DJ Zinhle and Thatiso Dube during a 'Walk Your Journey' panel discussion at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg. Picture: Supplied In celebration of Youth Month, the Bathu Foundation has revived the Walk Your Journey series, partnering with renowned DJ and entrepreneur DJ Zinhle, alongside GalxBoy founder Thatiso Dube. This year, the Foundation is focusing on equipping young South Africans with tools for success in the evolving entrepreneurship landscape. The 2025 edition of the series kicked off on Wednesday at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg under the theme 'Navigating the New Age of Retail: Opportunities and Challenges in South Africa.' Bathu founder Theo Baloyi, along with DJ Zinhle and Thatiso, led discussions on business growth, innovation, and sustainability in today's competitive market. Theo said the idea behind the series is to fast-track entrepreneurial growth by sharing real-world lessons. 'We believe there is a lot of potential in South Africa, a lot of emerging entrepreneurs. And it cannot only be that every 10 or 15 years, there's a Bathu or GalxBoy era that goes beyond the 10-year mark. 'So, we want to share the knowledge of how we managed to build a sustainable business over a period of 10 years. A lot of people have potential, but they just lack tangible know-how,' he said. He also highlighted the importance of including emerging topics like artificial intelligence in the conversation. 'There might be someone sitting there thinking, 'Actually, I want to start this business, but I don't know how to go about it,' or they struggle with self-expression. There is a tool in AI that can help you express yourself better.' ALSO READ: SA's MeerKAT telescope joins forces with European VLBI Network Bathu Foundation aims to reach wider audience The series is scheduled to continue on 18 June at the Fusion Boutique Hotel in Polokwane and conclude on 25 June at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban. Each session includes panel discussions, Q&As, and networking opportunities. The inclusion of Thatiso and DJ Zinhle in the programme reflects the Foundation's focus on practical, relatable insights. Theo said that together with DJ Zinhle and Thatiso, they bring over 30 years of combined experience to the stage. 'It's our way of giving back because we know that from this, instead of waiting 10 years to see two or three brands emerge, collectively we can have five to ten brands that come out of this session.' NOW READ: Thandiswa Mazwai says she would've accepted invite to national dialogue had Ramaphosa sent it