BARRY STREEK, Cape Town | Friday 12.00pm.
PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki in his speech to the opening of Parliament on Friday morning lashed out at tax evaders and reaffirmed government’s plans to continue with its renewal of the taxi industry.
He said the revenue service would introduce new measures to take tough action against non-compliant tax payers, who defrauded the fiscus of millions of rand through Vat and customs fraud, tax evasion or not registering for tax at all.
Mbbeki said the government is determined to press ahead with its plans to renew the minibus taxi fleet as well as the introduction of other measures to ensure that this sector provides a safe, dependable and disciplined service to the public.
“Ageing minibuses which were designed as family vehicles cannot be allowed to roam our roads condemning paying passengers to risk their lives by travelling in mobile coffins.
“..it is a mistake to think that the government can be intimidated into taking wrong decisions,” said Mbeki.
He also said the government will press ahead with its local government demarcation plans, which had no relationship to the powers of traditional rulers, nor did it have a negative impact on their role and powers.
He said the government would not tolerate illegal and unjustified strikes such as the one recently experienced at Volkswagen in Uitenhage.
“Jobs, a better life for our people in the context of a growing economy and our standing in the yes of the investor community cannot be held hostage by elements pursuing selfish and anti-social purposes.”