Agricultural union TLU SA will petition Finance minister Tito Mbwoweni to allow all South Africans to deduct any security expenses from tax.<\/p>\n
Even though companies can deduct these type of costs, the union noted that Section 23(b) of the Income Tax Act prohibits individual South Africans from doing the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cCountless South Africans have been subjected to the gravest invasion of their freedom by becoming victims of violence,\u201d said Henry Geldenhuys, the president of TLU SA.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Constitution requires the state to protect us from such invasions. However, the state\u2019s utter failure to do so is painfully apparent, just from looking at its own statistics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Citing data from Stats SA, Geldenhuys said that housebreaking or burglary is the number one crime in South Africa.<\/p>\n
An estimated 1.2 million housebreaking incidents occurred in the 2019\/20 statistical year alone, affecting 891,000 households in our country.<\/p>\n
Like those on farms, South Africans living in remote areas are particularly vulnerable, as they reside far from any form of assistance, he said.<\/p>\n
“Considering the grave danger South Africans face daily, it is utterly disgraceful that the state does not allow security expenditure incurred by a taxpayer in securing their residence to be deducted from their income tax,” said Geldenhuys.<\/p>\n
“Section 77 of the Constitution affords only the minister of finance \u2013 Mr Tito Mboweni \u2013 the power to instigate the abovementioned amendment.”<\/p>\n
The TLU SA has drawn up a list of the necessary expenses each household in South Africa should be able to deduct from tax. These include:<\/p>\n
TLU SA said that the list will be amended as it receives feedback about additional safety expenditure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on all peace-loving South Africans, regardless of race, gender, age, or creed, to join us in one voice, demanding the minister amend the Constitution so we can protect ourselves,” Geldenhuys said.<\/p>\n