What makes this year’s Budget Speech by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana make headlines is the proposal of a VAT increase. Opposition parties and civil society groups had vowed to oppose any VAT increase citing the impact it will have on the poor. So many suggestions have been made, even by members of the public as to what the government needs to do to increase revenue. So this morning, we thought to speak to experts on whether a VAT increase is the only solution and where else he should be looking to increase the much-needed revenue. To help us through this discussion, we are joined by…

Guest: Mervyn Abrahams – Programme Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity

Guest: Duma Gqubule- Research Associate at Social Policy Initiative

Guest: Elizabeth Biney - A member of the Steering Committee of the Budget Justice Coalition

What makes this year&rsquo;s Budget Speech by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana make headlines is the proposal of a VAT increase. Opposition parties and civil society groups had vowed to oppose any VAT increase citing the impact it will have on the poor. So many suggestions have been made, even by members of the public as to what the government needs to do to increase revenue. So this morning, we thought to speak to experts on whether a VAT increase is the only solution and where else he should be looking to increase the much-needed revenue. To help us through this discussion, we are joined by&hellip;
Guest:&nbsp;Mervyn Abrahams &ndash; Programme Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity 
Guest:&nbsp;Duma Gqubule- Research Associate at Social Policy Initiative
Guest:&nbsp;Elizabeth Biney - A member of the Steering Committee of the Budget Justice Coalition

Newsmakers and Guest Experts offer their insights and perspectives into the national and global discourse on politics, economics, education, social matters and comprehensive dialogues on cultural diversity and other essential issues of public interest like, poverty alleviation, unemployment rate and health related issues.

NewsmakersandGuestExpertsoffertheirinsightsandperspectivesintothenationalandglobaldiscourseonpolitics,economics,education,socialmattersandcomprehensivedialoguesonculturaldiversityandotheressentialissuesofpublicinterestlike,...

The Talking Point

What can the Finance Minister do to increase revenue?

We speak now to the South African Postbank about the process of converting the SASSA gold cards to the Postbank Black Cards. The date has been postponed to the 20th of March as many of the beneficiaries were panicking as the last deadline was drawing closer. To remind beneficiaries what they need to know and also how the process is going so far, we are joined by…

Guest: Nikki Mbengashe - CEO of Postbank

We speak now to the South African Postbank about the process of converting the SASSA gold cards to the Postbank Black Cards. The date has been postponed to the 20th of March as many of the beneficiaries were panicking as the last deadline was drawing closer. To remind beneficiaries what they need to know and also how the process is going so far, we are joined by&hellip;
Guest: Nikki Mbengashe - CEO of Postbank

SASSA gold cards to Postbank how is the process going?

We continue our series on the G20 with Lerato Tsebe looking at how South Africa uses this opportunity of being at the helm for 2025. 

Guest:  Lerato Tsebe - Independent African Researcher

We continue our series on the G20 with Lerato Tsebe looking at how South Africa uses this opportunity of being at the helm for 2025. 
Guest: &nbsp;Lerato Tsebe - Independent African Researcher

G20 series with Lerato Tsebe

Internet shutdowns have risen to and all-time high. According to the 2024 Access Now report, there were 21 blackouts in 15 countries on the African continent. Due to the report, the African Commission for Human and People’s Rights passed a resolution on internet shutdowns (ACHPR.Res.580) and elections since March last year. On a more global scale, 296 shutdowns have taken place across 54 countries. This reflects societies that access to the internet is becoming precarious.

Our next guest has written a report that uncovers the role of local telecommunication giants in human rights abuses when it comes to internet shutdowns. This investigation exposes how MTN has played a role in shutting down the internet during elections or conflicts in Sudan, Cameroon, Iran, Afghanistan and Uganda. The report also outlines the dangers of internet shutdowns and how mobile operators may give oppressive regimes tools to limit their access to information, their right to protest and access to emergency services. The report also highlights the devastating financial impact of these internet shutdowns, with an estimated global cost of $9.13 billion in 2020 alone. How do we hold corporations and governments accountable?

Guest: Abby May - Researcher at Open Secrets

Guest: Bataung Qhotsokoane - Technology Researcher at iAfrikan

Internet shutdowns have risen to and all-time high. According to the 2024 Access Now report, there were 21 blackouts in 15 countries on the African continent. Due to the report, the African Commission for Human and People&rsquo;s Rights passed a resolution on internet shutdowns (ACHPR.Res.580) and elections since March last year. On a more global scale, 296 shutdowns have taken place across 54 countries. This reflects societies that access to the internet is becoming precarious.
Our next guest has written a report that uncovers the role of local telecommunication giants in human rights abuses when it comes to internet shutdowns. This investigation exposes how MTN has played a role in shutting down the internet during elections or conflicts in Sudan, Cameroon, Iran, Afghanistan and Uganda. The report also outlines the dangers of internet shutdowns and how mobile operators may give oppressive regimes tools to limit their access to information, their right to protest and access to emergency services. The report also highlights the devastating financial impact of these internet shutdowns, with an estimated global cost of $9.13 billion in 2020 alone. How do we hold corporations and governments accountable?
Guest: Abby May - Researcher at Open Secrets
Guest: Bataung Qhotsokoane - Technology Researcher at iAfrikan

What can the Finance Minister do to increase revenue?

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