Voorsitter, daar bestaan ernstige kommer oor die nakoming van wetlike vereistes rakende oorgrenshandel. Die Departement van Handel en Nywerheid het verskeie maatrels in plek om tariewe, heffings en belasting op in- en uitvoere te hef via, onder meer, die samewerking van Sars, Itac en grensbeheer deur die Departement van Binnelandse Sake.
So word daar byvoorbeeld aksynsbelasting, BTW en ander tariewe gehef op plaaslik geproduseerde en ingevoerde alkoholiese items. Hierdie maatrels het inkomste vir die fiskus, die voorkoming van onbillike mededingingspraktyke uit die buiteland van soms gesubsidieerde produkte en die beskerming van werkgeleenthede ten doel.
Voorsitter, 'n tendens het ontwikkel wat die gebrekkige kapasiteit en oneffektiwiteit van die huidige regering benadruk. Onwettig ingevoerde alkoholiese produkte word gereeld in Suid-Afrika aangebied teen pryse wat selfs laer is as die aksynsbelasting op soortgelyke wettig ingevoerde produkte en plaaslik geproduseerde produkte. Na raming verloor die fiskus bykans R400 miljoen per jaar aan inkomste vanwe hierdie praktyk.
Nodeloos om te s, beteken dit ook dat 'n aansienlike aantal werkgeleenthede in die proses verlore gaan. Dit is die verantwoordelikheid van nie minder as vier Ministeries om te verseker dat Suid-Afrikaanse produsente, wettige invoerders en die fiskus hierteen beskerm word. Hierdie vier is die Ministeries van Polisie, Binnelandse Sake, Handel en Nywerheid en Finansies.
Wanneer gaan die regering iets daadwerklik hieraan doen? Of is hulle nie bewus van hierdie toedrag van sake nie? Die regering moet dringend planne implementeer om alle onwettige oorgrenshandel in die kiem te smoor. Ek dank u. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Mr S J F MARAIS (DA): Chairperson, there are serious concerns pertaining to compliance with legal requirements with regard to cross-border trade. The Department of Trade and Industry has various measures in place to impose tariffs, levies and taxes on imports and exports by means of, amongst others, co-operation from Sars, Itac and border control by the Department of Home Affairs.
In this way, for instance, excise tax, VAT and other tariffs are imposed on liquor items that are produced locally and imported. These measures are aimed at providing an income for the fiscus, preventing unfair practices from competitors abroad often in respect of subsidised products, and protecting job opportunities.
Chairperson, a trend has evolved that underlines the inadequate capacity and inefficiency of the current government. In South Africa, illegally imported liquor products are frequently offered at prices that are even lower than the excise tax on similar products that are legally imported or produced locally. It is estimated that the fiscus loses approximately R400 million in income per year as a result of this practice.
Needless to say, this also means that a considerable number of job opportunities are lost in the process. It's the responsibility of no fewer than four Ministries to ensure that South African producers, legal importers and the fiscus are protected from this. These four Ministries are those of Police, Home Affairs, Trade and Industry, and Finance.
When is the government going to take decisive action against this? Or are they unaware of this state of affairs? The government needs to implement plans urgently to nip all forms of illegal cross-border trade in the bud. Thank you. [Applause.]]