The Automobile Association (AA) says finance minister Tito Mboweni is faced with serious challenges as he prepares to present the 2020 Budget in Parliament on Wednesday (26 February).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe minister will have to walk a trickier fiscal tightrope than many of his predecessors, and he will undoubtedly be seeking relief from different quarters to ease the country\u2019s financial burden.<\/p>\n
“This places him in a tough position where he will have to meet the needs of the country while at the same time ensuring there is enough money coming into government coffers to satisfy demand,\u201d the AA said.<\/p>\n
However, the association said that turning to the fuel levies as a source of revenue will be a dangerous, and ultimately damaging tactic, especially for the poor in the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrevious years have seen higher than inflation-linked increases to the fuel levies \u2013 the General Fuel Levy, the Road Accident Fund levy, customs and excise taxes and the Carbon Tax. However, given the fact that many South Africans are buckling under severe financial constraints, such an increase this year will be more than detrimental, it could be catastrophic,\u201d the association said.<\/p>\n
The two major taxes \u2013 the General Fuel <\/strong>and Road Accident Fund levies<\/strong> \u2013 comprise around 40% of every litre of fuel sold in the country.<\/p>\n Currently these taxes amount to R5.59 on every litre of petrol (GFL = R3.61 and RAF = 1.98), and R5.47 on every litre of diesel (GFL = R3.47 and RAF = R1.98).<\/p>\n Neighbouring countries who buy fuel directly from South Africa do not add these taxes making their fuels cheaper than in the country which supplies them, the AA said.<\/p>\n Any increases announced by the minister on Wednesday would come into effect in April.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have seen in the past that any increases to the fuel levies is met with a swift increase to public transport fares \u2013 including those of taxis. While a slight increase, even one in line with inflation, may not seem drastic, it has an enormous impact on the lives of consumers who rely on every cent to make it to the end of each month.<\/p>\n “These increases are therefore extremely harmful to the majority of citizens and should be considered an absolute last resort by the Finance Minister,\u201d the AA said.<\/p>\n In addition it said that any proposed increase to the rate of Value Added Tax (VAT) along with an increase to the fuel levies will be double blow for consumers and the motor industry as a whole, one many will not be able to cope with.<\/p>\n \u201cSeen against the background of government spending, a bloated civil service, looming increases to electricity rates, bailouts of State Owned Entities to the tune of billions of Rands, and minimal or no increases to salaries and wages over the same period, any increase to the fuel levies now is ill-advised and counter-productive,\u201d the AA warned.<\/p>\n The association said its message to Mboweni is simple: \u201cDon\u2019t do it minister\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n