Latest news with #Beesley
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Fuel levy increase amid VAT scrapping, 'robbing Peter to pay Paul'
While the National Treasury acknowledges that the fuel levy was regressive, it maintains that it was one of the options that needed to be considered and was increased in line with inflation. Image: Kopano Tlape / GCIS The National Treasury has been accused of fooling taxpayers by proposing an inflation-related increase in the fuel levy as a replacement for the now-scrapped VAT hike. During a joint meeting of parliamentary committees on finance and appropriations on Friday, where Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and the National Treasury unpacked the 2025/26 Budget, MPs maintained that the fuel levy increase would negatively impact poor households amid questions about whose idea it was. The fuel levy was increased as one of the new tax measures aimed to raise R20 billion after the VAT hike, which was to generate R75 billion, was scrapped. EFF MP Omphile Maotwe said they rejected the fuel levy. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'When we rejected VAT in March, we never said it must be replaced with a fuel levy. That is what the Treasury did, they just went to convert VAT to a fuel levy. What is more painful is that the increase of 16 cents per litre for petrol and 15 cents for diesel is only expected to generate R4 billion - you are saying that yourself," Maotwe said. She accused the National Treasury of ignoring their alternative revenue proposals, including the proposed wealth tax and apartheid tax. 'Why are you not considering taxing the rich?… Are you confirming this country is governed by the rich?' asked Maotwe. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said it was great to see VAT was off the table. 'It is absolutely nonsensical that it has been replaced in part by a fuel levy,' Beesley said. 'I don't know whose idea it was, but it's just absolutely nonsensical. You're robbing Peter to pay Paul,' Beesley added. DA spokesperson on finance Mark Burke said they were supporting the Budget, but it included allusions to another R20 billion in random taxes next year they were vehemently opposed to. 'We are making clear now that unless we can identify the expenditure efficiencies that will avert the R20 billion situation, we will have to oppose any form of taxation. South Africans simply cannot afford more,' Burke said. MK Party MP Des van Rooyen said the million dollar question on the fuel levy was who was fooling who. 'The National Treasury under Minister Godongwana seems to be taking South Africans for a fool. We are saying this because it does not require a rocket scientist to determine that fuel levy is an indirect tax. It is very regressive because of its multiplier effect,' Van Rooyen said. He said the poor will be adversely affected when the price of fuel increases and that the National Treasury had gone for the low-hanging fruit while ignoring their alternative proposals. National Treasury's acting head of tax and financial sector policy division, Chris Axelson, said the fuel levy hasn't been adjusted since April 2021. 'The current increase is in line with expected inflation of around 4%. In our view, this isn't a replacement for the VAT increase,' he said. 'The VAT increase was anticipated to raise R75 billion over the next three years. This figure of a 4% increase in the fuel levy would increase the amount of revenue compared to the 12 March Budget of around R12 billion for the three years, so it's a much smaller amount.' Axelson said the points being made that the fuel levy was regressive, applied to everyone, and consumers will feel it, were valid. 'It's a difficult tax. We've been trying to avoid it, as you can see through the non-adjustments over the past four years, but in a scenario where such a large amount of revenue is missing from the removal of the VAT increases, it was one of the options that needed to be considered and was increased in line with inflation,' he added. Axelson confirmed that the National Treasury had received a lot of alternative revenue proposals, which were discussed at the joint meeting of the committees in March. The National Treasury previously argued against the increase in personal income tax and corporate income tax rates, as well as against introducing a wealth tax. 'At the moment, we don't think it's prudent to be raising these taxes, but we need R20 billion in the 2026 Budget, and that R20 billion we will look at these alternative revenue proposals. We are hoping to have a more consultative approach to the potential tax measures that we can use, and we will assess those and consider them,' he said. Cape Times
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
National Treasury faces backlash over fuel levy increase amid VAT hike scrapping
While the National Treasury acknowledges that the fuel levy was regressive, it maintains that it was one of the options that needed to be considered and was increased in line with inflation. Image: Kopano Tlape / GCIS The National Treasury has been accused of fooling the taxpayers by proposing an inflation-related increase in the fuel levy as a replacement for the now-scrapped VAT hike. During a joint meeting of parliamentary committees on finance and appropriations on Friday, where Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and the National Treasury unpacked the 2025/26 Budget, MPs maintained that the fuel levy increase would negatively impact poor households amid questions about whose idea it was. The fuel levy was increased as one of the new tax measures aimed to raise R20 billion after the VAT hike, which was to generate R75 billion, was scrapped. EFF MP Omphile Maotwe said they rejected the fuel levy. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'When we rejected VAT in March, we never said it must be replaced with a fuel levy. That is what the Treasury did, they just went to convert VAT to a fuel levy. What is more painful is that the increase of 16 cents per litre for petrol and 15 cents for diesel is only expected to generate R4 billion - you are saying that yourself," Maotwe said. She accused the National Treasury of ignoring their alternative revenue proposals, including the proposed wealth tax and apartheid tax. 'Why are you not considering taxing the rich?… Are you confirming this country is governed by the rich?' asked Maotwe. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said it was great to see VAT was off the table. 'It is absolutely nonsensical that it has been replaced in part by a fuel levy,' Beesley said. 'I don't know whose idea it was, but it's just absolutely nonsensical. You're robbing Peter to pay Paul,' Beesley added. DA spokesperson on finance Mark Burke said they were supporting the Budget, but it included allusions to another R20 billion in random taxes next year they were vehemently opposed to. 'We are making clear now that unless we can identify the expenditure efficiencies that will avert the R20 billion situation, we will have to oppose any form of taxation. South Africans simply cannot afford more,' Burke said. MK Party MP Des van Rooyen said million dollar question on the fuel levy was who was fooling who. 'The National Treasury under Minister Godongwana seems to be taking South Africans for a fool. We are saying this because it does not require a rocket scientist to determine that fuel levy is an indirect tax. It is very regressive because of its multiplier effect,' Van Rooyen said. He said the poor will be adversely affected when the price of fuel increases and that the National Treasury had gone for the low-hanging fruit while ignoring their alternative proposals. National Treasury's acting head of tax and financial sector policy division, Chris Axelson, said the fuel levy hasn't been adjusted since April 2021. 'The current increase is in line with expected inflation of around 4%. In our view, this isn't a replacement for the VAT increase,' he said. 'The VAT increase was anticipated to raise R75 billion over the next three years. This figure of a 4% increase in the fuel levy would increase the amount of revenue compared to the 12 March Budget of around R12 billion for the three years, so it's a much smaller amount.' Axelson said the points being made that the fuel levy was regressive, applied to everyone, and consumers will feel it, were valid. 'It's a difficult tax. We've been trying to avoid it, as you can see through the non-adjustments over the past four years, but in a scenario where such a large amount of revenue is missing from the removal of the VAT increases, it was one of the options that needed to be considered and was increased in line with inflation,' he added. Axelson confirmed that the National Treasury had received a lot of alternative revenue proposals, which were discussed at the joint meeting of the committees in March. The National Treasury previously argued against the increase in personal income tax and corporate income tax rates, as well as against introducing a wealth tax. 'At the moment, we don't think it's prudent to be raising these taxes, but we need R20 billion in the 2026 Budget, and that R20 billion we will look at these alternative revenue proposals. We are hoping to have a more consultative approach to the potential tax measures that we can use, and we will assess those and consider them,' he said.
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Max Beesley's life from Robbie Williams link and famous ex-girlfriends to alcoholism battle
Max Beesley is part of the star-studded cast in the gripping real-life Disney+ drama Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes with fans eager to know about the actor's life. Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes was released in full on Wednesday, 30th April, on Disney+, retelling the tragic events from 20 years ago. Actor Max Beesley is among the four-part drama's cast, portraying the former assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, Andy Hayman who was leading the investigation into the 2005 London bombings. With Suspect now ready to watch, Disney+ subscribers are curious to know all there is about the show's stars, including the 54 year old actor. Inside Max Beesley's life Musical career Long before his days working in front of the cameras as an actor, Beesley focussed on his passion for music, acting as a chorister at Manchester Cathedral and studying at Chetham's School of Music. He then attended Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he met the likes of Ewan McGregor and Daniel Craig but still continued to pursue music as well as acting. During his stint as a musician, Beesley worked as a session musician and keyboardist, performing with Take That, George Michael, Jamiroquai and played the drums for Stevie Wonder. Robbie Williams link Among the famous faces that Beesley worked with as a musician was Robbie Williams, playing keyboard in Robbie Williams' live concert video at Knebworth. Max Beesley also performed with the former Take That singer during a 2005 Hyde Park, five days shy of the London bombings. Their friendship dates back to their teenage years, Beesley and Williams having built their bond since ages 14 and 11. Beesley also previously reminisced about moving in with Williams in Los Angeles in the early noughties, sharing with The Telegraph: "I bumped into Rob in a shop in a classic car sales room. "I moved in with him for a couple of years, and we went on the road, touring." Alcoholism Despite enjoying professional successes, alcoholism cast shadows on Beesley's life and it was only after the birth of his daughter that he stopped drinking. In an intimate reveal to The Telegraph, he expressed: "Alcoholism is an incredibly quick, progressive disease that if you've not got your eyes on it, you can get in trouble very quickly. "You know, it's Christmas, have a drink. It's a nice day, let's have a drink. It's a very serious drug I don't like anything controlling me." Famous ex-girlfriends Beesley was in a three-year rleationship with former Spice Girls star Melanie Brown which began while her marriage to dancer Jimmy Gulzar was coming to an end. Reflecting on the impact their romance had on his career, Beesley told the Evening Standard: "It made the front pages wherever we went. "It wasn't a particularly nice situation to be in and, as far as I could see, it had no benefits and plenty of disadvantages. "It damaged my career 100 percent. I was getting painted with the same celebrity brush as her, and nobody was paying any attention to my work, which was really unfortunate. Everything slowed right down." Beesley then had a string of relationships with other celebs like Dannii Minogue, Melanie Sykes, Jodie Marsh, and Mica Paris. He also had a four-year romance with 'Footballers' Wives' actress Susie Amy before meeting his dancer wife Jennifer, marrying in 2000 and later having daughter Sabrina. What's next His IMDb suggests he's gearing up to star in the new Jack Ryan film alongside John Krasinski and Wendell Pierce. Despite the action drama wrapping up on Prime Video after its fourth season aired in 2023, this untitled movie is now in the pre-production stages and slated for release on Prime Video. It boasts a stellar ensemble including the likes of Sienna Miller, Michael Kelly, Betty Gabriel, and Douglas Hodge.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Max Beesley 'couldn't breathe' watching Jean Charles de Menezes drama
Max Beesley has said he "couldn't breathe" the first time he watched his new drama about Jean Charles de Menezes. The Disney+ series tells the story of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead in a Tube station in 2005 when he was mistaken for a terror suspect in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings in London. Hotel Babylon star Beesley plays Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman, the man who spearheaded the investigation into the attacks. He shared that the first time he watched the drama it had a big impact on him. Beesley was on The One Show on Wednesday, 23 April alongside co-star Edison Alcaide, who plays Menezes in Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. The actor said the drama was "so truthful and so beautiful" and admitted he was hit hard when he watched it. "When we were watching the press screening at Bafta a few weeks ago, (co-star) Laura Aikman and I were sat next to each other and at the end of the second episode we couldn't actually breathe, we were struggling holding it together," he said. Turning to Alcaide, he went on: "And I think to humanise Jean Charles and to portray it as best as you can, as you did in that show, gives the viewer... it's so powerful isn't it, drama, to be able to put it into people's houses and to give them multiple perspectives. "But to see a living version of Jean Charles de Menezes himself, portrayed by Edison so beautifully, I think it's really vital for the show, to connect with people." Alcaide said he could "really see myself" in the shooting victim. "I feel like I really connected with Jean Charles on so many levels," said the actor. He added: "This is just a man who was living in London, a Brazilian man, living and completely innocent, just trying to make ends meet at the time. Just like everybody else." Jean Charles de Menezes was a Brazilian electrician living in London when he was shot and killed at 27. He was waiting at Stockwell Tube station on 22 July 2005 and was mistaken for a terror suspect. He was shot several times in the head. The following year, the Crown Prosecution Service decided that no officers should be prosecuted over the shooting. However, in 2007, the Met was fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £385,000 costs after it was found that it had breached health and safety rules. The One Show airs at 7pm on BBC One on weekdays. Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes is on Disney+ from Wednesday, 30 April.
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
ActionSA slams Eskom's R3.6 billion diesel spending in one month as 'costly cover-up' for failing grid
ActionSA demands accountability from Eskom and the Minister of Electricity, calling for honest reporting, real recovery plans, and an end to wasteful diesel spending disguised as energy progress. Image: Timothy Barnard /Independent Newspapers ActionSA has expressed concern over Eskom's R3.6 billion diesel spend in just 30 days, calling it an 'unaffordable illusion' used to mask South Africa's ongoing electricity crisis. The party says government claims of ending load shedding are misleading, with diesel-powered emergency generation simply substituting blackouts rather than solving the core issues. ActionSA Member of Parliament, Alan Beesley, said: 'South Africa hasn't ended load shedding – we've simply replaced it with an unaffordable illusion, paid for by the taxpayer.' Beesley said that between April 1 and 10, 2025, alone, Eskom burned R1.34 billion in diesel. Yet, Eskom's Energy Availability Factor (EAF), the key metric for generation performance, sits at just 56.11 percent, well below the 70 percent target set by the Minister of Electricity. This also reflects a decline from the same period last year, when the EAF was 58.96 percent. ActionSA says this proves there are fewer megawatts available now than a year ago, despite significantly higher spending. 'That is not a recovery – it is a cover-up with devastating fiscal consequences,'' Beesley warned. According to Eskom's 2024 data, diesel-fired generation via Open-Cycle Gas Turbines costs R6,579 per megawatt-hour, compared to R541 for coal and just R113 for nuclear. ActionSA argues that billions are being wasted to keep the grid afloat when those funds could have been used to restore failing coal infrastructure. If the same amount of electricity had been produced using coal, the cost would have been a fraction, closer to R300 million. Beesley added: 'Eskom is burning billions, and the people of South Africa are being burned in the process.'
