Minister Gordhan se department verdien om geluk gewens te word met hul prestasies. Die feit dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Inkomstediens sy invorderingsdoelwitte oorskry het, wys dat die departement wel hard werk. Dit dui natuurlik ook daarop dat die Suid-Afrikaanse belastingbetaler wil h dat die land moet werk, gegewe hul bydraes.
Daarom is die omgekeerde ook waar, en dit is dat die regering 'n besondere verantwoordelikheid het teenoor die belastingbetaler. Dit vind vergestalting in die aanwending van die belastingfondse op 'n sinvolle en effektiewe wyse. Dit behels enersyds die neem van die korrekte beleidsbesluite en andersyds die effektiewe toepassing van di besluite, met inbegrepe van die uitwissing van korrupsie.
Die regering het, wat die VF Plus betref, wel in die regte rigting begin beweeg rakende ekonomiese beleid, maar ons moet u maan dat die broodnodige ekonomiese groei en werkskepping wat ons land wel nodig het nie gaan gebeur deur die grootskaalse intervensie van die regering alleen nie. Die belastinggeld moet grootliks aangewend word om 'n omgewing te skep wat die entrepreneurswese sal dien as synde die grootste werkskepper.
Ons glo daarin dat Afrikaners en ander minderhede die regering kan bystaan indien die regering gewillig sal wees om die strukturele hindernisse van regstellende aksie en swart ekonomiese bemagtiging te begin hersien en derhalwe die speelveld waarlik gelyk te maak.
Daarby wil ons ook die Minister en sy departement versoek om aandag te gee aan die volgende sake van kommer: die publiek sou graag eerstens wil weet of die Inkomstediens steeds voortgaan met hulle ondersoek teen Julius Malema. Ons verstaan sy belasting is 'n private aangeleentheid, maar indien die ondersoek sou bevind dat daar onrelmatighede bestaan, veral in die lig daarvan dat sy maatskappye gebruik maak van staatsgeld en substandaarddienste lewer in daardie verband, het die publiek ook 'n reg om te weet wat die uitslag van daardie ondersoek is. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[Adv A D W ALBERTS: Minister Gordhan's department deserves to be congratulated on their achievements. The fact that the SA Revenue Service has exceeded its revenue collection goal indicates that the department is working really hard. This also clearly indicates that the South African taxpayer would like the country to be functioning, given their contributions.
Hence the reverse is also true, and that is that the government has a particular responsibility towards the taxpayer. This is personified by the meaningful and effective utilisation of tax revenue. This involves, on the one hand, taking correct policy decisions and, on the other hand, the effective implementation of these decisions, especially with regard to the eradication of corruption.
The government, according to the FF Plus, is moving in the right direction with regard to its economic policy, but we have to caution that the much- needed economic growth and job creation are not only going to come about through massive government intervention. Taxes should mainly be utilised for creating an environment that would serve the entrepreneurial sector, since it is responsible for creating most jobs.
We believe that Afrikaners and other minorities would support government if it would be willing to review structural obstacles such as affirmative action and black economic empowerment to consequently level the playing field.
We would also like to request from the Minister and his department to give attention to the following matters of concern: firstly, the public would like to know whether the SA Revenue Service would be continuing its investigation into Julius Malema. We know that his tax situation is a private matter, but if the investigation concerns irregularities, especially in the light of the fact that his company is using public funds and delivering substandard services in this regard, the public also has a right to know about the outcome of that investigation.]
Secondly, and most importantly, it is becoming very evident that the South African taxpayer is being overburdened by the demands of the state on his or her income. The middle class is struggling, yet the government increasingly levies more taxes or charges upon the everyday working person to the degree that this economy can be constricted into a backwards slide.
At all levels of government, new taxes are born without it necessarily being called taxes. An example is the new road-use tax in Gauteng. Existing tax rates are being increased beyond affordability with many people now facing the prospect of losing their properties due to local government charges.
This is clearly nonsensical. Therefore, we appeal to the Minister to take stock of all the taxes bearing down upon taxpayers and to rework the system into a more equitable form that will allow for entrepreneurial growth in South Africa. Otherwise, we are fast approaching a communist tax system and fascist economy.
The Minister has always shown prudence in the face of adversity, and we trust he will do so again. Thank you very much.