SONA 2021: Business community appeals for support, economist predicts tax increase
The Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Commerce appeals to President Cyril Ramaphosa to restore business confidence in his State of Nation Address tonight.
Chamber's Melanie Veness says businesses have gone from bad to worse and it will be intolerable to even consider additional taxes for business
Veness said that businesses in KwaZulu-Natal have been financially crushed by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
She has appealed for support from President Cyril Ramaphosa.
She says businesses, that have survived the crisis, are in a delicate place right now.
"I don't think any business or individuals are in a position to be paying for the taxes. A lot of people have lost their jobs and homes and hope. There are very few that can say they have come out of the situation better then they were before."
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Economist Dawie Roodt anticipates an announcement on more taxes, "I expect the President to give a bit of an insight on what can be expected in the budget with the minister of finance. Things like possible tax increases and certain expense items that can maybe be reduced."
