A lot of money for government or the people?

According to the 2013 tax statistics publication tabled by SARS and the national treasury, R813,8 billion was collected in revenue in the 2012/13 fiscal year.

It further states that a total of 15,4 million people registered for tax, of whom 5 881 019 were liable to submit returns.

These tax burdened payers have to support the non-tax payers through government grants.

It further states that the individual tax register increased from 13,7 million to 15,4 million people.

That is 1,7 million more people who are contributing.

In the same period, there were 2,2 million registered companies, of which 800 000 were liable to submit returns and almost 700 000 vendors that are VAT registered.

According to SARS, Swaziland received R7 billion this year, which is more than the R2,8 billion it received last year, an increase of roughly 145%.

The amount that BLNS countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland) receive from South Africa increased from R21,7 billion to R42,1 billion.

No wonder our country is struggling to pay off debt like the controversial Gauteng e-tolls, which tax payers are now being expected to pay.

Why should the taxi industry be exempt from paying e-tolls?

The question is: how much does the taxi industry actually contribute to the tax fiscal?

What about the thousands of foreign vendors who do not pay tax and the South Africans who are not registered? Many of these vendors do not even permanently reside in this country, but stay here because it is good for their businesses.

The fact that thousands of public officials annually get caught with their hands in the cash register makes one shudder to think about how tax payers’ money will be used in the future.

This money can surely help to uplift impoverished communities, resurrect an ailing education department, fight crime effectively, build houses, schools, hospitals, clinics and provide sufficient service delivery all over.

But we all know that is not going to happen because ordinary people and politicians don’t share the same values about hard earned money.

I recently read a story about a European minister who cycled from a parliament gathering to his office.

In South Africa, even the lowest ranked public official sees it as a right to be driven around in a top of the range luxury vehicle while escorted by the blue light brigade.

As I dream of one day winning the lotto, I also dream of a perfect world for every South African in this beautiful country.