Amid Budget Speech shock, yet another Land Bill proposed
Katja Hamilton
Government's strategic VAT adjustments; what they mean
1 Nov 2024
Government has announced plans to broaden the zero-rated VAT food basket, aiming to protect vulnerable South African households from rising costs.
Source: 123RF.
As it stands, the list of zero-rated VAT items stands at 19, and includes such staples as brown bread, maize meal, milk, rice, vegetables, and eggs. The recommendation is to expand the list to 44 zero-rated VAT items.
Advocacy group, Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PMBEJD) has advocated for this stance, based on data that shows a food basket for a family of four - containing these 44 items - costs approximately R5,290 in Cape Town and R5,486 in Johannesburg.
The food cost, it says, is out of reach of low-income families.
Mmamoloko Kubayi, head of the ANC's economic transformation subcommittee, said this was part of the party's aim to put a stop to inflation on basic food items, and reiterated it was essential to creating stability in South Africa.
"These efforts are a testament to our commitment to making essentials affordable and accessible," Kubayi said.
This, she said, will reinforce public trust in South Africa's future.
The last time the zero-rated list was expanded upon (by six food items) was in 2018.
