National Treasury has asked South Africans on social media to send tips to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana ahead of the National Budget Speech on Wednesday.
Social media users on Twitter shared their views on South Africa’s economy and what they think the Minister should consider as he aims to strike a balance in the use of the country’s fiscus.
“It is in this context that Minister Godongwana invites South Africans to share their suggestions on the Budget – what should government be spending on, how to address a large budget deficit, new sources of tax revenues, and other Budget-relevant information,” notes Treasury in their invitation to the public to make suggestions.
Using the hashtags #Budget2022, #TipsForMinFin, #BudgetSpeech the public, social, business and labour organisations posted their suggestions in the build-up to the Budget speech.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Unemployment remains one of South Africa’s biggest problems with the unemployment rate sitting at 39.4%. The official number of unemployed number of people in South Africa stood at
7 643 000 in the third quarter of 2021.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions has called on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to address issues of #unemployment, present a turnaround plan for State-Owned Enterprises and reverse budget cuts at the @CCMA_SA #Budget2022 @_cosatu https://t.co/ucvJdDQ3Sp pic.twitter.com/jWTWzQEau4
— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) February 22, 2022
TAX
The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) is among public members and business organisations who have raised concerns about the high tax in South Africa and the abuse of tax.
On a thread posted on Twitter, OUTA called on Godongwana to address Corruption, increase transparency in government spending and lower the fuel levy.
“Consumers can’t afford high fuel costs. Taxes & levies are 33% of fuel price. #OUTA says reduce General Fuel Levy by 32c/litre & do not increase RAF levy. Fix RAF fund,” says OUTA in a tweet.
This week all eyes will be on #Budget2022. #OUTA compiled some #tips for the Minister of Finance & @TreasuryRSA which we sent to them about 2 weeks ago. Here’s our list:
— OUTA (@OUTASA) February 21, 2022
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana must not increase VAT. Consumers overburdened already with fuel hikes, PAYE and Eskom demanding over 20% increase from NERSA #Budget2022
— Sakhi Khuzwayo ?? (@SakhyKhuzwayo) February 22, 2022
POLITICAL PARTIES ON DEBT
Government debt and the repayment of loans remains a major talking point on social media.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is expected to march to Parliament on Wednesday ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget Speech in opposition to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank loans to bail out the country’s economy.
[HAPPENING TODAY]: We are marching to Parliament today, to demand the end of the IMF and World Bank loans. #EFFParliamentMarch pic.twitter.com/cByap4djzA
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) February 23, 2022
?Debt warning alarm for SA.
“Through targeted spending cuts and savings, the DA’s debt containment model shows that national debt can be brought under control sooner, and at a lower rate, than government’s stated objective.” – @AshorSarupen
Full clip: https://t.co/ze0xGNlikW pic.twitter.com/B6NuuYFCuc
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) February 22, 2022
SOCIAL ISSUES AFFECTING SA
Civil organisations have called for a budget that is responsive to South Africa’s social problems.
We are hosting a two-day #PeoplesSummit to discuss various issues that affect the poor and marginalised throughout the country. Tomorrow we will be marching to @ParliamentofRSA where Finance Minister will be delivering his maiden #BudgetSpeech. #EndAusterity#TaxTheRich #BIG pic.twitter.com/sDjN5jsWfH
— Cry of the Xcluded (@CryofXcluded) February 22, 2022
SABC News asks: What do you hope to hear?
SABC News asked social media users: “What do you hope to hear from Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, when he delivers the 2022 budget speech?”
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What do you hope to hear from Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, when he delivers the 2022 budget speech tomorrow? With @FrancisHerd & @_BongiweZwane #SABCNews #FullView #Budget2022 pic.twitter.com/MDVAyumHiY
— SABC Full View (@SABCFullView) February 22, 2022
FINAL TOUCHES
Earlier this week, Treasury posted pictures of Godongwana and his team putting the ‘final touches’ to the speech.
FINAL TOUCHES: Team #NationalTreasury including the Minister of Finance, the DG and SARS Commissioner currently finalizing the #BudgetSpeech to be tabled on 23 Feb at 14:00 in Parliament by Minister Godongwana. #Budget2022 pic.twitter.com/D5WJlJegId
— David Masondo, PhD (@DrDavidMasondo) February 20, 2022
PLAYLIST | SABC News Spoke communities, unions and the business industry about the 2022 Budget speech:
![[File Photo] Members of the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) march against job losses in Durban, South Africa, February 13, 2019.](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/cosatu-Reuters-120x86.jpg)
