NEWSWATCH: The 1% tax proposed by the Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda may be unconstitutional, according to the DA, reports Polity Org. Meanwhile, the Treasury apparently knew nothing about the proposed tax, writes Moneyweb, and opposition parties reckon that, while special levies are unlikely, pressure is building, says Business Report.
The minister says the national broadcaster spends about R250 million trying to collect licence fees, and that's why he wants taxpayers to cough up an extra 1% tax, according to IOL, which also reports that the SABC has set up a task team to take a look at the draft bill, of which it says it was unaware.
Business Day and IOL: Bill came as a surprise to us, says top SABC member… Even the SABC itself seems to have been unaware of the Bill, but now the broadcaster is to review draft bill… IOL: Defaulters cost SABC R250m … So instead of improving the collection process so that it become cost-efficient, the minister wants to hand the problem over to the tax-paying public - via an extra tax burden. This means, of course, that taxpayers would subsidise non-taxpayers, who would enjoy free TV and radio entertainment.
My profession Is broadcasting why should I pay tax to a institution that owes me money . And what guarantee is there thay the same thing wont happen again……………I refuse to sponsor R 30 000 a month petrol allowances…..and that’s just what we know of Posted on 5 Nov 2009 11:28
If the SABC actually broadcast programs worth watching and thereby displaying value for money, perhaps viewers would be more forthcoming instead of considering license fees a grudge purchase.
However, as is so narrow minded typical, instead, yet again - penalize, penalize, penalize!
When will the mindset change? Posted on 5 Nov 2009 14:23
Reasons: 1. They have decent programmes that people want to watch and are prepared to pay for. 2. They only make their service available to those that pay.
Stop wasting tax payers' money on propping up unnecessary organisations that don't work, and don't deliver! Posted on 19 Nov 2009 12:52
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