Over 20 000 tips for Trevor
Feb 11 2009 17:07
Marc Hasenfuss
Cape Town - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said more than 20 000 suggestions had been sent in to the "Tips for Trevor" campaign since its introduction nearly 10 years ago.
More than 2 300 tips were forwarded to the Finance Minister this year.
A grateful Manuel said South Africans' voices had been heard in countless ways.
"You advised in the early years that the child support grant should be extended above its initial age threshold of seven, and that has been done. You advised that public benefit organisations needed greater tax relief,and that has been done.
"You advised that the tax treatment of retirement fund withdrawals was too onerous, and so that has been revised. You have advised in no uncertain terms that the Sars call centre is dysfunctional, and so that is being fixed, as we speak."
Manuel noted that the call for the provision of free anti-retroviral treatment was another topic that persistently featured over the years.
He said Jackie Mondi of Berario wrote an extensive tip in 2003, calling for a special fund for fighting HIV/Aids that focused on both care and prevention.
"In 2004 government was able to roll out antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in public health facilities around the country for those living with HIV and Aids."
Recent tips, he said, reflected an appreciation of this - such as the one from Gemi Malau who wrote: "I think the budget needs to be commended as it is now focusing on HIV/Aids."
On a more light-hearted note, Manuel referred to a note from AT du Plooy, who asked the minister to "please be a little more lenient on the tax on whisky for the old folks".
Manuel said Du Plooy advised that: "We have so little to enjoy, you know things that used to happen after dark, no longer happen. All we have left to enjoy is a little entertainment before supper."
While Du Plooy begged for leniency (and reminded the minister that this would ultimately be for his own benefit as well), Manuel advised soberly that "a bottle of whisky, Du Plooy, goes up by R3.21."
- Fin24.com
