DA warns government will be illegally taxing South Africans

By Simon Nare

The Western Cape High Court has heard how allowing the proposed 0.5% value-added tax hike will allow the government to tax its citizens unlawfully.

Democratic Alliance legal representative Advocate Michael Bishop, who argued to interdict the tax hike coming into effect on 1 May, said the increase must be shelved until it is debated and approved by Parliament.

Bishop argued that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana acted unlawfully when he hiked the VAT and had no powers to do so as this rested with Parliament, and not the executive.

Bishop said that the temporary powers given to Godongwana to adjust tax during the budget speech should not translate into powers allowing him to hike the tax because Parliament could amend the law that legally allowed for the taxation.

“It cannot be I submit that Parliament says we sometimes take a while to deal with legislation, therefore, we are