This morning, members of the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party in Gauteng will rally against the proposed increase in VAT at Pretoria’s Church Square.
The protest comes after a delay in the national budget presentation, which Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana initially set for last month. The budget will now be tabled in Cape Town on Wednesday.
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The planned march, expected to draw a sea of green, black, and yellow, will journey through the streets of Pretoria, ending at the South African Reserve Bank and National Treasury.
This demonstration seeks to voice the MK Party’s opposition to the proposed 2% VAT increase, which they argue would disproportionately affect low-income households and small businesses across the country.
MK Party Calls for Fairer Taxation
The MK Party has voiced strong concerns about the regressive nature of the VAT system, arguing that it places an unfair burden on the most vulnerable in society.
According to the party, an increase in VAT will exacerbate existing economic disparities, hitting poor communities the hardest while doing little to address the broader systemic issues facing South Africa’s economy.
The Economic Impact on Small Businesses
Small businesses, which are already grappling with numerous challenges, would face further pressure from the proposed VAT hike.
MK Party leaders are stressing the detrimental effects this increase would have on entrepreneurs, who are already struggling to stay afloat in a tough economic environment as it is in South Africa today.
The march will emphasize how VAT, as a regressive tax, creates significant barriers for small businesses to thrive, stifling innovation and contributing to a shrinking local economy.
Through today’s protest, the MK Party hopes to raise awareness of the broader economic impact and advocate for policies that support the sustainability of small businesses and protect low-income South Africans.
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