Latest news with #R5bn
TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
EFF's urgent application against fuel levy hike
The Western Cape High Court is on Tuesday hearing an urgent application by the EEF for the increase of the fuel levy to be scrapped. The General Tax Levy increase is expected to take effect on Thursday after finance minister Enoch Godongwana increased the fuel levy by 16 c/l and 15 c/l on petrol and diesel respectively. The increase was seen by many as a replacement for the proposed VAT hike that was rejected. However, experts have argued the fuel levy increase was meant to cover the more than R5bn intended for the Road Accident Fund, which they say has not been receiving funding in the past three years.
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
EFF takes fuel levy increase to court after budget 3.0
The EFF has launched a court challenge to the fuel levy increase introduced by the budget 3.0. In his third attempt at tabling the budget, finance minister Enoch Godongwana increased the fuel levy by 16 c/l and 15 c/l on petrol and diesel respectively. The levy is expected to kick in on June 4. The increase was seen by many as a replacement for the VAT hike that was rejected. However, experts have argued the fuel levy increase was meant to cover the more than R5bn intended for the Road Accident Fund which they say has not been receiving funding in the past three years. The EFF on Thursday said it was interdicting the fuel levy increase after attempts to get Godongwana to reconsider this were ineffective. 'We took this action after repeated efforts to caution the minister and appeals to his conscience failed. We wrote to the minister, urging him to consider the effect of this increase on the poor and working-class people, especially as the cost-of-living crisis is deepening,' the EFF said. 'We also reminded him that, like the VAT increase, raising the fuel levy without introducing a proper money bill is unlawful and undermines parliamentary oversight.'
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
CoJ's R200 prepaid electricity surcharge extended for another financial year
JOHANNESBURG - There is no good news for prepaid electricity customers in Johannesburg, as the R200 surcharge has been extended for another financial year. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds confirmed during her budget speech on Wednesday that the surcharge was here to stay. It was first implemented in July 2024, causing public outrage about soaring electricity prices. ALSO READ: - CoJ allocates more than R5bn to address water challenges over next three years - City of Joburg's Finance MMC tables R89bn budget - ActionSA says won't support CoJ budget unless R200 electricity surcharge scrapped The City of Johannesburg expects to generate R25 billion in electricity revenue in the next financial year, which is a 12.5% increase from the current fiscal period. A significant driver of this increase is the controversial R200 surcharge imposed on prepaid electricity users. Although the surcharge adds to the financial burden on residents, Arnolds said that maintaining it at R200 was in the best interest of taxpayers. "We refuse to allow economic pressure to push our people further into the margins. That is why we are holding the prepaid electricity surcharge unchanged at R200, excluding VAT - a deliberate act to protect the poor against rising energy costs. "This budget makes it clear: we will not govern in a way that reproduces inequality. Our pro-poor programme is a political choice rooted in the values of equity, dignity, and redress. It is a signal that in the City of Johannesburg, no one will be left behind. Not on our watch." She said that other metros in the country also imposed a similar electricity surcharge, and claimed that Johannesburg remained more affordable in comparison.
TimesLIVE
15-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Sandu urges unhappy soldiers to take legal route to address pay dispute
The South African National Defence Union (Sandu) has expressed concern that some SANDF members who were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are threatening unlawful action to protest about allowances payable to them. The union said it had received several complaints from the South African National Defence Force members who were part of the Sadc mission. It said the SANDF had acknowledged the complaints and undertaken to investigate disparities in payments. 'It is with concern that Sandu has noted certain individuals deployed in the DRC threatening on social media unlawful actions to protest the issue.' The union acknowledged the concerns of the soldiers and assured all involved that the necessary legal means were available to address any payment concerns they might have. 'Under no circumstances will Sandu support any unlawful action to protest/raise payment concerns.' Sandu urged its members to register their concerns on the union channel (legal@ in order for the union to have facts to act upon in a legal and orderly way. Meanwhile, the DA says it has written to defence minister Angie Motshekga, requesting a detailed breakdown of the Sadc-funded allowances for troops, including how the payments are structured and where the remaining funds are being held. The political party said it was concerning that soldiers deployed to the DRC were reportedly receiving only R34,000 a month, despite Sadc allocating R108,000 per soldier. 'This discrepancy raises serious questions about transparency and accountability. The South African government separately budgeted R5bn for the mission — funds meant to cover operational costs, including troop allowances,' the DA said.
