The Post

We are worse off than Zimbabwe

AN OPEN letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa

I am emailing you following what I recently saw on eNCA – a citizen was shot dead in Thembisa while protesting over poor service delivery and the increases levied for lights and water in that area.

The truth of the matter is that the problem exists in every province in South Africa, where almost 80% of citizens live below the breadline.

The recent increase in the fuel price has a ripple effect. It affects every sector of the economy that relies on transportation. The cost of food has also increased drastically.

Everything increases, on average, by about 30%. How are poor citizens expected to budget and live their lives? This places a bigger burden on the 80% of citizens living below the breadline. This eventually leads to debt.

We always compare ourselves with Zimbabwe and say we are almost getting to its status. The statement is, in fact, false because we are worse off than Zimbabwe.

My humble request is for government intervention to assist us, the citizens of South Africa, in three ways:

Giving a guaranteed household income grant if we earn below a threshold salary. Your office can determine the amount needed to run an average house if we are employed or unemployed. The rate of unemployment is high.

Reviewing the social and distress grants (old age, disability, child support and the R350 distress grants) after assessing the recent inflation hikes. The recipients cannot live off those amounts.

Offering debt relief by way of writing off certain debts incurred by citizens.

I am sure that my request is with

in reason and can be granted to all citizens because the South African Revenue Service (Sars) is doing an excellent job of collecting revenue from at least 95% of employed South Africans.

All I am asking from you is to assist by providing relief for South Africans who can contribute to the economy by way of revenue, which is income taxes that are paid to Sars.

I await a favourable response or reasonable solution to my humble requests.

KOOGAN PILLAY

Chatsworth

Opinion Post

en-za

2022-08-10T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-10T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepostza.pressreader.com/article/281767042996627

African News Agency