Students protest for increased government funding for tertiary education at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) on 8 April 2021 in Durban, South Africa. According to media reports, the students are demanding the scrapping historical debt and financial exclusion, as well as access to free registration, computers and data. (Photo by Gallo Images/Darren Stewart)
With mounting financial pressure, it is clear that the current model of student funding in South Africa is not financially and fiscally sustainable, write
Philippe Burger and Francis Petersen.
With a Covid-hit, shrinking economy and a mounting public debt burden, the Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, announced a tight Budget in February 2021. This Budget also constrained its allocation to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
Student funding and higher education in South Africa: What to do?
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Student funding and higher education in South Africa: What to do?
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Experts call for a 20% sugar tax hike to boost health
Experts are calling for a 20% hike in sugar tax due to the health sector s ongoing battle with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sugar tax hike
According to the
SABC, the proposal comes as Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is due to deliver the 2021 Budget Speech next week. Experts say a further increase in sugary beverages will not only result in a reduction in communicable diseases like diabetes, but it will also help support the country’s growing tax collection shortfall.
Government currently projects a R300 billion shortfall in revenue in this year’s budget. However, experts say a significant shortfall in the region of R250 billion is still on the cards. They add that the government has lost out on sin tax collections due to the ban on alcohol and cigarettes sale during the lockdown.