Dankie, Voorsitter. Dan vra ek vir 'n geleentheid om oor hierdie begrotingspos te praat.
Die VF Plus sal nie hierdie begrotingspos ondersteun nie. Ek het in verskeie debatte wat gevoer is in hierdie Parlement spesifiek verwys na die nuwe eiendomsbelastingwet. Daar is verskeie plekke in die land waar stadsrade nou misbruik maak van die nuwe eiendomsbelastingwet en dit as 'n geldmaakinstrument gebruik. Belasting op eiendomme styg geweldig. Daar is byvoorbeeld die geval van Belfast waar dit met 'n enorme 800% gestyg het.
Ek het vir die agb Minister daarop gewys dat die nasionale wetgewing hom die bevoegdheid gee om 'n maksimum koers te bepaal. Hy doen dit egter nie. Dit lyk dan daardeur of die agb Minister dit ondersteun dat stadsrade buitengewoon ho belasting begin hef op eiendom. Dit is nie vir die VF Plus aanvaarbaar nie. Inteendeel, dit gaan beslis die ekonomie op die lange duur skaad, as ons buitengewone belasting op ons eiendom moet betaal. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Mr P J GROENEWALD: Thank you, Chairperson. In that case I request an opportunity to respond to this Vote.
The FF Plus will not support this Vote. I have, in several debates engaged in by this Parliament, specifically referred to the new Municipal Property Tax Act. There are several areas in the country where city councils are now abusing the new Municipal Property Tax Act by using it as a money-making mechanism. Taxes on property are increasing at a tremendous rate. For example, there is the case of Belfast, where property taxes have increased by an enormous 800%.
I have pointed out to the hon Minister that national legislation gives him the power to determine a maximum rate. He is not doing that, however. This creates the impression that the hon Minister supports the practice of city councils levying exceptionally high taxes on properties. That is not acceptable to the FF Plus. On the contrary, it will definitely cause damage to the economy in the long term if we have to pay exceptionally high taxes on our property.]
Vote agreed to (Democratic Alliance, African Christian Democratic Party and Freedom Front Plus dissenting)
Vote No 6 - Public Works - put.
Declarations of vote: