Trevor tipped off
Feb 20 2008 18:14
Marc Hasenfuss
Cape Town - There has once again been a robust response to the Tips for Trevor campaign.
Manuel noted that government was able to draw on an extensive catalogue of advice from many hundreds of South Africans in compiling this year's Budget.
"The Tips for Trevor we receive from so many citizens and taxpayers is a sign of democracy at work and tangible evidence of the creativity and diversity of our people."
This year 2 240 South African shared their ideas with National Tresury. Manuel stressed: "I assue you that I have read them all."
He said advice on tax matters understandably featured prominently.
"I was particularly struck by this tip from Mrs Lebo Monyatsi, who writes: "I am a faithful tither in my church (paying 10% of gross salary to the church) - which is in compliance to God's instructions as outlined in the book of Malachi 3, 8-11. In verse 11 God advises us that when we pay our tithes, He shall rebuke the devourer.
"And surely the taxman is a devourer. I am therefore of the opinion that the tithe constitutes a donation for a good cause (expanding the kingdom of God, winning lost souls, converting criminals from their bad lifestyles) and therefore tithers should qualify for a tax rebate."
Manuel asked his advisors to review the revenue laws to formulate a response to Mrs Monyatsi.
"But this was unhelpful. I have therefore taken advice from another quarter. I found in St Paul's letter to the Romans 13 confirmation that 'rulers are not a terror to good works', and a corresponding injunction to 'Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."
Manuel said he hoped Mrs Monyatsi would agree that Romans has the advantage.
"I have just gone through a tip that I received from Mr. William Makhale, a practicing traditional doctor hailing from Moroka North in Soweto."
Makhale asked for money to be allocated for traditional health practitioners and that the Minister of Health instruct SA Local Governments Association (SALGA) to work with traditional healers to set up clinics of traditional medicine.
All this in a 99 page submission, which Manuel promised to pass onto his colleagues. Manuel seemed particularly taken with a proposal from Jim Mcnamara, who expounded a theory around the elevator versus escalator economy.
McNamara wrote: "Our citizens would have greater confidence in their futures if South Africa is seen to have an 'escalator economy' versus an 'elevator economy'."
Manuel explaind that McNamara's observation was based on watching people waiting for an elevator - " the crowds jostle, the strong force their way through and the infirm are left behind."
On the other hand, with an escalator there is a steady upward movement for everybody. "So yes, he speaks directly to the social content of our Constitutional imperative."
- Fin24
