The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has firmly pledged to oppose any tax hikes targeting the ordinary citizens and low-income earners.
There are growing calls urging Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to avoid increasing Value Added Tax (VAT) in his 2025 Budget Speech.
EEF Treasurer-General Omphile Maotwe says 15% VAT has put many households on the brink of hunger and needs to be cut.
“It would be very disappointing for the Minister to even consider increasing taxes for individuals. For example, when VAT was raised from 14% to 15%, it was presented as a temporary measure to address the challenges posed by COVID-19. What was surprising at that time was the decision to cut corporate income tax. How can one justify increasing Value Added Tax while simultaneously reducing corporate income tax?”
“You’re actually saying, the people who’ve been making more money must continue to make more money, and the poorest of the poor must continue to be poor. So we reject anything that suggests that our people must be taxed more. Corporate income tax must be increased. VAT must be reduced back to 14% because it was a temporary measure,” says Maotwe.
