Current Edition >> Archives Section >> Spot Coverage >> 1 - 15 March 2004
Besighede as werkgewers word gewaarsku om nie onverwags geplettervat te word deur wysigings aan die Wet op Basiese Indiensnemingsvoorwaardes (WBIV) wat sopas sonder ophef deur die Dept. van Arbeid deur die Parlement geloods is nie. Aangesien die wysigings spesifiek die vergoeding van werknemers raak, kan besighede wat nie ag daarop slaan nie, groot begrotingstekorte op die lyf loop omdat hulle onvoorsiens meer geld moet opdok vir werknemers wat op vakansiedae en Sondae werk en werkers wat uittree, bedank of uit diens gestel word. Die eerste wetswysiging wat maatskappye baie geld gaan kos, het betrekking op werknemers wat nie geregtig is op 'n beperking op die aantal ure wat hulle mag werk nie, asook verpligte etenstye, daaglikse en weeklikse rustydperke, bykomende vergoeding vir Sondagwerk, werk op openbare vakansiedae, nagwerk en oortyd nie. Die perk van werknemers wat geregtig is op die betalings en vergunnings is verhoog van 'n inkomste van hoogstens R89 455 per jaar tot R115 572 per jaar. Dit plaas duisende werkers nou in 'n kategorie waarvoor hulle bykomende vergoeding vir die bepaalde werk moet kry.
Dit is egter wanneer werknemers bedank, verlofgeld bepaal moet word en werknemers uit diens gestel word, dat maatskappye aansienlik meer sal moet opdok. Van hierdie nuwe bepalings is:
• Maatskappye moet subsidies wat die werknemer vir huisvesting gekry het of huisvesting wat die werkgewer aan die werker verskaf het, nou by sy vergoedingspakket inwerk.
• Motortoelaes of die verskaffing van 'n motor (behalwe as dit uitsluitlik vir werk gebruik word) moet ook in geldwaarde aan die werknemer uitbetaal word.
• Enige kontantbetalings, op enkele uitsonderings na, moet voortaan deel wees van sy / haar uittree- of uitdiensstellingpakket.
• Alle ander voordele wat 'n werknemer geniet het wat nie in kontant was nie, moet, op uitsonderings na, voortaan ook by beëindiging van diens uitbetaal word.
• 'n Werknemer moet ook uitbetaal word vir die bydraes wat die werkgewer aan 'n begrafnis- of sterftevoordeelpolis doen.
In die SA ekonomie wat tans in 'n kritieke fase afhanklik is van entrepreneurs-inisiatiewe vir verhoogde groei, word hierdie nuutste arbeidswetgewing wyd gesien as 'n ernstige demper en 'n verdere bewys van die werkgewer - onvriendelikheid van heersende wetgewing. Dit raak net eenvoudig al hoe moeiliker om 'n besigheid te bedryf. "In terme van werkskepping en verbetering van lewensstandaard, gaan die regering voort om die gans te slag wat die goue eiers moet lê," is hoe een entrepreneur die situasie teenoor die Vrystaat Sake Bulletin opgesom het.
It would seem that the Public Accounts Committee of the Free State Legislator has opened a can of worms with its investigations into the financial and management affairs of the Phakisa Major Sports Events and Development Corporation, especially pertaining to the latter's report for the period 1 April 1999-31 March 2003. It would appear that while the Phakisa project generated good spin-off for the Goldfields region, the operating income of the Phakisa Corporation for the said period amounted to only some R7 700 000, as against expenditure of some R424 000 000 - footed mainly by the Free State Department of Sports, Arts and Culture with taxpayers money.
In his report on the financial statements of the Corporation, the Free State Auditor General pointed out many irregularities and deficiencies and these are now being followed up through procedures of the Free State Legislator. Matters such as management control with the CEO of Phakisa, Mr. Bobby Hartslief, residing in the United States, the awarding of tenders and the question of accountability as a result of alleged illegal contracts, are also being investigated with a view to possible crim inal prossecution.
Die vooruitstrewende sakegebied van Westdene, Bloemfontein, is geruk deur die moorddadige aanvalle op sakelui in die gebied in die laaste week van Februarie 2004. Eers is mnr. Eben Johns byna noodlottig beseer toe hy om middernag voor sy onderneming, Computer Components Distributors in Kellnerstraat, met 'n mes toegetakel is. Met gapende wonde aan sy maag en arm het hy ternouernood daarin geslaag om self na die hospitaal te ry vir behandeling. Die ander twee aanvalle was noodlottig. Mnr. Corrie le Roux is om 21:30 geskiet en met 'n mes gesteek toe hy sy kantoor by Hamilton Solutions in Pres. Reitzlaan verlaat het. Hy is drie dae later in die hospitaal oorlede. Mnr. Johan Vorster wat by 'n bakkery in Westdene werksaam was, is dood in sy woonstel in Kellnerstraat gevind - met 'n baksteen doodgeslaan. Nog geen arrestasies in verband met een van die oorvalle is gemaak nie.
Well, it largely depends on whether one enjoys the small things in life, as the Budget has indeed brought about a number of small, albeit useful changes, to the tax and compliance burden of entrepreneurs in South Africa. The budget appears relatively tame and it seems to be leaning towards consolidation after several years of major tax reform in South Africa.
Individuals, investment income and the tax threshold
Individual taxpayers have received inflationary relief, as opposed to giving a real reduction in the tax burden. Taxpayers of all ages will enjoy an increase of R1 000 in tax-free interest per year (under 65's: R11 000; over 65's: R16 000). Under 65's will start paying tax at R32 222 taxable income per year, while over 65's will start paying at R50 000.
Salary-earners and deemed travel expenses
Entrepreneurs thinking of paying themselves a salary out of a company or CC, with a travel allowance and deemed travel expenses (in other words no logbook or other records kept), may be in for some surprises - their motor cars will now have a zero tax value after five years, and the current 50% taxability of the allowance during the year might be under imminent threat of amendment.
Transfer duty and stamp duty
From 1 March 2004 all houses with a value of up to R150 000 (previously R140 000) will be exempt from transfer duty. Otherwise the rate structure remains the same. Further relief for property owners is the repealment of stamp duty on mortgages as from 1 March 2004. With this second duty (additional to transfer duty) removed, property buyers who rely a lot on mortgage debt to acquire their property will experience an increase in buying power. The significantly lower stamp duty on long-term leases when compared to transfer duty on real estate will be reviewed in order to close the arbitrage opportunity in respect of long-term leases.
Excise duties
Sin taxes' as well as fuel levies have been increased. The good news on excise duties is definitely the removal of excise duties on all computer printers, recorded and unrecorded media and photocopiers from 1 April 2004.
Employee equity participation schemes
Tax-free transfer of shares to low-income employees will be instituted, while at the same time preventing share-based tax avoidance regarding high-income employees.
Tax compliance burden reform Initiatives include a task team to propose compliance relief for small business, including possibly a single business number per taxpayer across all government departments !
Miscellaneous amendments
Commission-based entrepreneurs entertaining customers will now have to satisfy the requirements of the general deduction formula (section 11(a)) of the Income Tax Act, as the limited entertainment deduction (s11(u)) will be scrapped. Labour brokers rejoice ! All labour brokers with more than 3 full-time employees will no longer be subject to the draconian withholding of 35% employees' tax by their clientele if they do not have an exemption certificate ! The provisional tax threshold will be aligned with the tax threshold, because currently certain people have to register for provisional tax, but don't pay any taxes because the R10 000 registration level is lower than the tax threshold.
Conclusion
Consolidation is the essence of the Budget, with both the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and taxpayers having some time to digest the last few years' changes. Lastly: Watch out for increasingly better service from SARS, coupled with a greater intensity, in enforcing the Acts under their administration !
Die Watersportfees wat op 31 Januarie 2004 by Gariepdam gehou is, is vinnig besig om in gewildheid toe te neem, met die Gariepdam halfmyl swem wat die grootste aftrek gekry het en beloof om een van die grootste sportitems in die Vrystaat te word. Volgens Basie Schmidt, organiseerder van die halfmyl, het 133 swemmers vanjaar deelgeneem, wat 'n groei van 38% toon. Hy sê dat die item 'n ideale geleentheid vir swemmers is om vir die bekende Midmar-myl te oefen. Dit is ook vroeg genoeg in die jaar om nie met ander sportgeleenthede te bots nie.
Ander sportaktiwiteite wat volgens die voorsitter van die Gariepdam Toerismeforum ook geesdriftige ondersteuning ontvang het, is die 21,1 km en 10km padwedlope, die klei-duifskietkompetisie en die seiljagregatta. Volgens Schmidt, lewer die jaarlikse Watersportfees 'n groeiende ekonomiese bydrae nie net tot die dorp nie, maar ook in die wyer omgewing.
Vir meer besonderhede kontak Deon by 082 336 3113.
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