Cosatu: Tax the wealthy to fund Eskom price hike

Necuno

Necuno

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sure. we are automatically rich because we are not part of cosatu or white for that matter. growing a bit tired of having to work my arse off for my well earnt sweat on my brow and then have to support 5 other persons on my keep.

what should happen imho. is a 20% slash of all high earners in the goverments, unions and entities like eskom and that should be used to fund things like saa / sabc and eskom.

we are being worked more and more to the bone for those who want to reap our benefits for their enrichment.

moreover. this bull**** of unions keeping us at ransom has to be brought to an end somewhere along the line. we the people who really want to see a better rsa are being kept in a prison by them and those in power who just want to leech a pon us.

Cosatu: Tax the wealthy to fund Eskom price hike
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Wednesday said it will "take to the streets" if Eskom is allowed to increase its electricity tariff by 35% a year for the next three years.

The federation's Western Cape secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, said at a hearing by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) in Cape Town that the proposed tariff increase would close down half the manufacturing sector.

"No increase that exceeds inflation should even be contemplated," Ehrenreich said. "If need be, we will take to the streets with the affected communities to protest against it."

Ehrenreich proposed a "solidarity tax" on the wealthy to help Eskom fund its infrastructure expansion programme.

Ehrenreich said the increase would plunge poor people into enormous difficulty. He said there was "obvious extravagance" in wealthy communities.

"We should tax the wealthy so Eskom can fund its programme."

Eskom acting chairperson Mpho Makwana told the hearing that a 35% increase every year for the next three years was vital for Eskom's infrastructure programme.

"Eskom can only do what it can with the means that are available to it financially," he said. "We have to ensure that we don't overstretch ourselves and compromise the country's continuity of supply."

He said Eskom had not been building its financial reserves. Some equity had come in from the government, but it was not enough.

CONTINUES BELOW


"An appropriate tariff for South Africa to continue to function optimally is 35% a year for three years," he said.

Mind made up
Meanwhile, Nersa has already made up its mind to grant Eskom the tariff hike it has requested, claimed a joint statement from several organisations on Wednesday.

Cosatu, the South African Communist Party, the South African National Civic Organisation, the Young Communist League and the Treatment Action Campaign alleged that Nersa had "long ago taken a decision on this matter to grant Eskom its 35% increase, and these public hearings are meant to just comply with the law".

The organisations said they were also of the view that the public hearings were "just a public exercise meant to mislead us that Nersa has taken our views into account", while in reality a decision had long been taken.

"We also wish to indicate that we are ready to mobilise our members and the community at large in the event that the majority view is not taken into account by Nersa," the organisations added.

"We will also be mounting a campaign for the removal of the board in the event that the needs of the community are not taken into account."

Nersa spokesperson Charles Hlebela was not immediately available to comment.

According to Eskom, tariffs have to be raised to help fund its R385 billion expansion plan. -- Sapa
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Have to agree, They insist of taxing for everything these days. In the states the government gives bail out money to corporates. In south Africa we the tax payers do! Next thing you know we will be taxed for telephony and internet.
 
Blaze786 said:
Have to agree, They insist of taxing for everything these days. In the states the government gives bail out money to corporates. In south Africa we the tax payers do! Next thing you know we will be taxed for telephony and internet.
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we also pay for each and every golden handshake. not to mention all other waste of tax payers moneys....
 
Ehrenreich said the increase would plunge poor people into enormous difficulty. He said there was "obvious extravagance" in wealthy communities.
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There's more obvious extravagance by those driving in new BMW 7-Series! :whistle:
 
Pegasus said:
That's odd, when they want to go on strike for their workers (like Eskoms workers) they take to the streets because they want way more than inflation increases.
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And probably cause inflation by the act of striking?
 
Blaze786 said:
Have to agree, They insist of taxing for everything these days. In the states the government gives bail out money to corporates. In south Africa we the tax payers do! Next thing you know we will be taxed for telephony and internet.
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Where does the bailout money come from...?:D
 
Blaze786 said:
Have to agree, They insist of taxing for everything these days. In the states the government gives bail out money to corporates. In south Africa we the tax payers do! Next thing you know we will be taxed for telephony and internet.
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This has to be dumbest comment, I have read on these forums for ages. :D
 
zippy said:
This has to be dumbest comment, I have read on these forums for ages. :D
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Sigh, long day I worded it incorrectly.

What I am saying in a nutshell is the US government for example don't increase the taxes each time they need to bailout or assist a company.

In south africa, SABC needs help increase the tax, etc.
 
Necuno said:
sure. we are automatically rich because we are not part of cosatu or white for that matter. growing a bit tired of having to work my arse off for my well earnt sweat on my brow and then have to support 5 other persons on my keep.

what should happen imho. is a 20% slash of all high earners in the goverments, unions and entities like eskom and that should be used to fund things like saa / sabc and eskom.

we are being worked more and more to the bone for those who want to reap our benefits for their enrichment.

moreover. this bull**** of unions keeping us at ransom has to be brought to an end somewhere along the line. we the people who really want to see a better rsa are being kept in a prison by them and those in power who just want to leech a pon us.

Cosatu: Tax the wealthy to fund Eskom price hike
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this country is absolutely ****ing crazy.

first, 1% employee tax must be allocated to fund the sabc
second, anc is selling jackets
third, now rich must be taxed heavily to fund telkom....

only in freaking africa !!!

And i thought we seen and heard it all from americans.:erm:
 
I think the right policy is to target the taxes at ANC and ANCYL members, and COSATU leaders.

GL! said:
this country is absolutely ****ing crazy.

first, 1% employee tax must be allocated to fund the sabc
second, anc is selling jackets
third, now rich must be taxed heavily to fund telkom....

only in freaking africa !!!
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Doesn't surprise me. I don't think we could get foreigners taxpayers to pay for it.
 
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Blaze786 said:
What I am saying in a nutshell is the US government for example don't increase the taxes each time they need to bailout or assist a company.
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Perhaps not, but ultimately taxpayers have to fund that debt. I also suspect they increase taxes without earmarking it for something specific.
 
Tax for the SABC, tax for Eskom. Do this dimwits realise that actual taxpayers are a small minority in this country? There is only so much to go around? Reduce tax exemption (a small amount, such as 1-2%, from millions on non-paying earners with be worth it), sort out the informal sector (especially the taxi industry) and you will have you cash.

The middle class is already suffering and now you want to suppress them more?
 
Turbo_Aspiration said:
Where do you think the US government gets its money?
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You also got to remember in the US, most people earn a lot more than the average person here. They are educated and productive.

The average person here seems not to want to get an education and work hard, but get everything because they feel its owed.
 
noxibox said:
Perhaps not, but ultimately taxpayers have to fund that debt. I also suspect they increase taxes without earmarking it for something specific.
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Yes I agree, but you fail to take into account the proportional sizes of their tax base and south africa's.
 
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Blaze786 said:
From Tax, but do they increase the tax amount each time they need to bail out another company?
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Nope but they do cut social spending by a HUGE margin to make up for the short fall.. just check for this yr in some states!
 
krycor said:
Nope but they do cut social spending by a HUGE margin to make up for the short fall.. just check for this yr in some states!
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As far as I can see their reasons for the large cuts in social spending/programmes was due to the economic crysis in 2009?
 
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