Latest news with #R7.5
The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
R8 million worth of dagga from Eswatini seized
Police swooped on a bakkie suspected to be carrying drugs into Limpopo. Limpopo police on Friday seized around R8 million worth of dagga during an anti-smuggling operation in the province. According to police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, officials received intelligence that a white Toyota Hilux bakkie was suspected to be transporting dagga from Eswatini. 'An immediate search operation commenced for the lookout of the bakkie, and it was positively spotted towing a trailer along the R36 public road next to Mooketsi Weigh-bridge at about 7 am. 'It was stopped, searched and found transporting forty-two bags (42) bags of compressed dagga weighing 851,85 Kg with an estimated street value of R8 million rands,' Ledwaba explained. Picture: Supplied He said a 27-year-old male suspect was questioned about the load and then arrested. He is expected to appear before the Tzaneen Magistrate's Court on Monday, 2 June 2025, on a charge of dealing in drugs. Picture: Supplied Other drug busts In February, two South Africans were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport for drug trafficking. They were travelling from Brazil and carrying cocaine with an estimated street value of R7.5 million. A few months earlier, a Brazilian woman was nabbed at the same airport, also coming from Brazil. She was carrying around R1.8 million worth of cocaine. NOW READ: Human trafficking exploiters spin web of drugs – expert
Eyewitness News
3 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
SARS expects to see impact of increase in tax collection efforts from Q2
CAPE TOWN - The South African Revenue Service (SARS) said the impact of it ramping up its efforts to collect more taxes would be felt by the second quarter of this financial year. Treasury again warned Parliament on Friday that it would increase taxes next year in efforts to plug a R20 billion budget shortfall in the next financial year if SARS doesn't produce the money. SARS is receiving R7.5 billion over the next three years to bolster its capacity to collect more taxes, which it estimates could be as much as R50 billion a year. ALSO READ: • Expanding list of tax-free food items won't benefit poorer households: Treasury • Treasury defends fuel levy increase Last week, SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, said the aim was to employ at least 1,700 more staff to allow it to go after those not paying taxes. On Friday, the revenue service's head of legislative policy tax, Franz Tomasek, told Parliament's finance committees it was still in the process of training and appointing more debt collecting staff. "Our initial focus is going to be on undisputed debt. But that will need to be underpinned by revenue recovery measures targeting the tax gap as we move into the outer years. The results will be reported monthly, and bearing in mind the ramp-up period, we are expecting those efforts to start gathering pace by the beginning of the second quarter of this year." Tomasek said he hoped these efforts would mean the finance minister would reconsider his intention to raise taxes next year.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Tough budget for Ekurhuleni
Ekurhuleni's total expenditure budget of R64.8 budget would be subjected to non-negotiable conditions Ekurhuleni MMC for Finance, Strategy and Corporate Planning, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, on Thursday tabled a R65.5 billion budget. According to Dlabathi, tough economic realities, lack of optimal collection, revenue leakages, weak liquidity position, ineffective expenditure management and the assumption that 90% of municipal revenue should be generated internally, were among key factors in the budget. Bullish about improving alignment and effectiveness of existing revenue collection systems, Dlabathi projected an additional estimated R2.1 billion gross revenue in the current financial year. 'Given that we intend not to borrow over the medium-term, all departments that are involved in the revenue generation value chain will have to pull together to ensure the achievement of our revenue goals in the medium and long-term. 'This will be spearheaded at the level of the Revenue Enhancement Committee that has since been put in place by Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza. 'The budget posture is guided by the directive to ensure a responsive city, working with agility to restore service delivery to communities. 'This directive demands that we focus on the core basics – providing quality, equitable and sustainable services to all in a manner that ensures the ideal quality of life,' said Dlabathi. Non-negotiables He said Ekurhuleni's total expenditure budget of R64.8 budget would be subjected to non-negotiable conditions, which would include: Spending within the allocated budget. Linking spending to the provision of essential services and goods. Fostering economic procurement and realisation of value for money. Strengthening internal capacity to reduce over-reliance on contracted services. ALSO READ: Joburg budget hanging by a thread: ANC fights to get their way as partners gun for them Key expenditure breakdown allocations include: Water and sanitation repairs will receive and maintenance R550 million,mainly to ensure resilient infrastructure that secures a sustainable supply of water and sanitation services—stretching to fixing water and sewer leakages. From the total of R20.7 million earmarked for human settlements, R7.5 million will be channelled towards basic repairs and maintenance work for selected hostels—with the rest covering the maintenance of rental units, including Ekurhuleni Housing Company. The Energy Department will receive R1.4 billion towards infrastructure and equipment maintenance related to substations, network enhancement, with R103 million allocated to the repairing of street and traffic lights, under the Operation Khanyisa Mhali. Additional R254 million has been allocated to the protection of energy infrastructure. Through the ' Siyakhuculula Manje and Clean Kasi ' programme, a total of R226 million has been allocated to environmental resources, waste management repairs, maintenance materials and supplies to support internal capacity to cut grass, maintain cemeteries, remove weeds, prune trees, and maintain landfill sites, wetlands, lakes, and dams. A total of R946 million has been allocated for roads and transport management, with road rehabilitation and pothole patching done under the auspices of the Hlasela Amapotholes project. A total of R41.3 million will be used for repairing and maintaining traffic signals. While more funds are still required, R54 million will go towards addressing sinkholes. Capital expenditure has been allocated R3.1 billion. An employee budget will be R13.4 billion – towards annual salary increments and the recruitment of additional workforce. Dlabathi said the budget will implement the recruitment of 700 permanent cleaners and 290 permanent EMPD (Ekurhuleni Municipal Police Department) officers to maintain strategic offices and buildings. 'A budget of R303 million will be allocated over the medium-term to equip the staff with essential tools of trade necessary to optimise performance. Time provision must prioritise departments that are providing essential services. 'The long-term trajectory is that of implementing the 70/30 ratio for service delivery, wherein 70% of the services are rendered in-house, with 30% contracted. 'As we implement the capital budget, we must not be found wanting with our supply chain management, planning, organising and as well as overseeing the completion of capital projects within time, scope and quality,' added Dlabathi. NOW READ: How Joburg plans to spend R89 billion
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Sars banks on 1700 debt collectors to close gap
Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter also said their commitment was that they expected to yield at least R20 billion from the Debt Recovery Project. Image: Screenshot: Newzroom Afrika The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is set to bolster its debt collection capabilities significantly, announcing plans to hire 1700 debt collectors in the 2025/26 financial year. This strategy is part of a concerted effort to improve revenue collection and recover debts in light of ongoing fiscal challenges. Commissioner Edward Kieswetter announced this while addressing the joint committees of finance and appropriations on Friday. 'We have already employed 500, used the month of April and early May to train them, to induct them, to get them going, and they will now start collecting debt. In addition to that, next week, June 1, we will bring in a further 250 and continue to ramp that up,' he said. 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 ✕ Ad Loading Kieswetter also said their commitment was that they expected to yield at least R20 billion from that Debt Recovery Project. 'But our aspiration is to go much closer to R50 billion as far as that is concerned. So you should see next year a significant step up ahead of inflation, just on the debt recovery.' In his Budget, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana allocated R7.5 billion to the SARS over the next three years to increase the effectiveness in collecting more revenue. National Treasury's Budget documents said the funding will focus on using technology, data science, and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and transparency in tax administration. Kieswetter said the current revenue projection did not include the current projection of revenue that will be derived from the Focus Debt Recovery Project. 'The minister has indicated that over the next six months, as he builds confidence, it will provide him the opportunity to consider how much of that he would like to include, both in the in-year but also out-of-year budgets.' He told the MPs that the Debt Recovery Project had a ring-fenced allocation in the previous financial year to focus on revenue recovery. 'Some of that we applied very specifically to debt recovery, spent just over R300 million in the last financial year, and we were able to employ just short of about 760 additional employees on a project basis, train them up, and get them to use our systems.' He said the cohort of debt collectors hired last year delivered just short of R25 billion that was included in the revenue outcomes of last year. SARS's final unaudited revenue outcome for 2024/25 stood at R1.86 trillion. Kieswetter said the first year of the debt recovery project has confirmed their view that revenue administration was integral to the fiscal integrity of South Africa and should not be taken for granted. Commenting on the modernisation of SARS, he said it was integral to the quality, the efficiency, and the effectiveness of their compliance programme. 'A significant amount of that is the work that SARS performs through auditors, investigators, and debt collectors to follow up not only service-related issues, but also non-compliance-related issues. Cumulatively, that work yields additional revenue, which, if not done, will not be collected.'
IOL News
24-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
SARS aims for R50 billion as it hires 1,700 debt collectors
Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter also said their commitment was that they expected to yield at least R20 billion from the Debt Recovery Project. Image: Screenshot: Newzroom Afrika The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is set to bolster its debt collection capabilities significantly, announcing plans to hire 1,700 debt collectors in the 2025/26 financial year. This strategy is part of a concerted effort to improve revenue collection and recover debts in light of ongoing fiscal challenges. Commissioner Edward Kieswetter announced this while addressing the joint committees of finance and appropriations on Friday. 'We have already employed 500, used the month of April and early May to train them, to induct them, to get them going, and they will now start collecting debt. In addition to that, next week, June 1, we will bring in a further 250 and continue to ramp that up,' he said. 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 ✕ Kieswetter also said their commitment was that they expected to yield at least R20 billion from that Debt Recovery Project. 'But our aspiration is to go much closer to R50 billion as far as that is concerned. So you should see next year a significant step up ahead of inflation, just on the debt recovery.' In his Budget, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana allocated R7.5 billion to the SARS over the next three years to increase the effectiveness in collecting more revenue. National Treasury's Budget documents said the funding will focus on using technology, data science, and artificial intelligence to improve efficiency and transparency in tax administration. Kieswetter said the current revenue projection did not include the current projection of revenue that will be derived from the Focus Debt Recovery Project. 'The minister has indicated that over the next six months, as he builds confidence, it will provide him the opportunity to consider how much of that he would like to include, both in the in-year but also out-of-year budgets.' He told the MPs that the Debt Recovery Project had a ring-fenced allocation in the previous financial year to focus on revenue recovery. 'Some of that we applied very specifically to debt recovery, spent just over R300 million in the last financial year, and we were able to employ just short of about 760 additional employees on a project basis, train them up, and get them to use our systems.' He said the cohort of debt collectors hired last year delivered just short of R25 billion that was included in the revenue outcomes of last year. SARS's final unaudited revenue outcome for 2024/25 stood at R1.86 trillion. Kieswetter said the first year of the debt recovery project has confirmed their view that revenue administration was integral to the fiscal integrity of South Africa and should not be taken for granted. Commenting on the modernisation of SARS, he said it was integral to the quality, the efficiency, and the effectiveness of their compliance programme. 'A significant amount of that is the work that SARS performs through auditors, investigators, and debt collectors to follow up not only service-related issues, but also non-compliance-related issues. Cumulatively, that work yields additional revenue, which, if not done, will not be collected.'
