Searching for VAT survivors after a bumpy ride for small businesses

SOUTH Africa's “VAT desert storm” may have ended, at least for now, after witnessing political theatrics and policy paralysis, that attempted to bring snow to a desert while bidding to solve the dry revenue generation period.

- Bongani Ntombela

It almost displayed itself through a public gallery with all the makings of a political thriller—multiple plot twists, frantic coalition bartering, and a final “U-turn of the century’—yet the real victims, township businesses and family-run businesses, are left wondering if it is going to rain cats and dogs or bring clear blue skies for VAT season.

While the ANC, DA and EFF spar over “fiscal sustainability” versus “taxing the rich,” township spaza shops, clothing retailers and small cafés were caught in the crossfire.

When President Cyril Ramaphosa attempted to patch his dripping VAT shack, suddenly, the Cape wind blowing from the DA’ finance spokesperson Dr. Mark Burke, blasted the VAT proposal as an outdated ideology that has long sunk its head under Soviet beach sand.