Budget 2009
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel today delivered his much anticipated 2009 budget speech. Amoung the highlights were tax relief of R13bn to individuals to counter the effects of inflation, raising the VAT registration threshold from R300 000 to R1m, increasing sin taxes on both alcoholic drinks and cigarettes and increasing the fuel levy on petrol by 23c to R1.50/l and by 24c to R1.35/l for diesel.
Not too much was said about Broadband Infraco or Sentech apart from the budget allocation for digital TV migration and communications infrastructure investment.
When it came to the treasury’s medium-term priorities and public service delivery, it said that the “transition to digital television broadcasting will be supported over the medium term with an allocation of R780 million to the Universal Access Services Agency, subsidising set-top boxes, and to assist Sentech in fulfilling its universal access obligations.”
R 570 million has also been allocated for the 2009/2010 financial year for communications infrastructure, including ICT for 2010 FIFA World Cup. This number increases to R 610million for 2010/2011 and decreases to R 415 for the 2011/2012 financial year.
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