AfriForum today published a tax manifesto in which the civil rights organisation declared a dispute with the South African government about the continuous wasting of taxpayers’ money. AfriForum says that a general tax revolt will be unavoidable if the continuous looting of the fiscus as well as the steamrolling of destructive policy ideas do not stop immediately.

The public is urged to add their support to this document by visiting www.taxcampaign.co.za.

Ernst Roets, Head of Policy and Action at AfriForum explains that AfriForum is not planning to organise a tax revolt. However, the public is increasingly demanding it and that sympathy with the idea is growing. “Our goal is to avoid such a tax revolt by insisting on drastic intervention rather than encouraging a revolt,” Roets says. “However, it seems that there is not much space for negotiations. The ongoing, shameless looting of the fiscus by senior public servants, combined with the fact that high-profile persecutions are all but happening while the ruling party continues to apply destructive policies leaves the tax payer without any other choice.”

Roets adds that AfriForum speaks on behalf of its almost 300 000 members, most of whom are taxpayers. “If more people add their voices to this campaign by endorsing this manifesto, it will strengthen our mandate.”

Johan Kruger, Head of Community Development at AfriForum, adds that AfriForum demands the recognition of a civil tax secretariat so that communities have a greater say in how communities taxes are appropriated. At the end of the day, more say and oversight of the appropriation of taxes and greater tax autonomy for communities are the most important ways in which taxpayers will be diverted away from any form of tax revolt,” says Kruger.

The manifesto demands that:

• the secretariat is recognised by government as a legitimate body that represents a significant portion of the country’s taxpayers, and that also has a constructive role to play in making sure that taxpayers are satisfied with the way in which their tax money is being appropriated;
• the President and the ministers of the applicable state departments meet with this secretariat to discuss the demands set out in the manifesto;
• the amendment to the Constitution that will allow the state to expropriate property without compensation is suspended immediately;
• the continued funding of failed state enterprises is suspended immediately; and
• corrupt state officials, cadres of the ruling party and their networks are prosecuted immediately and that various specialist tribunals and courts are established for this purpose, which tribunals and courts are properly empowered and not subjected to political pressure or interference.

Tax manifesto