https://www.miningweekly.com

Sugar body calls for yet more public input on sugary-beverages tax

10th March 2017

By: Anine Kilian

Contributing Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

The South African Sugar Association (Sasa) believes there has been insufficient public involvement in discussions on the implementation of the proposed tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in his Budget address confirmed that the proposed tax, which will be levied at a rate of 2.1c/g of sugar content in excess of 4 g/100 ml, will be implemented later this year, after the relevant legislation is passed.

“It is inevitable that the imposition of the tax will negatively affect both the milling and sugarcane agricultural sectors of the local sugar industry. Loss in revenue and a reduction in sugar consumption will result in a shrinkage of the industry with accompanying job losses,” Sasa chairperson Rolf Lütge said in a statement.

He added that the sugar industry is under siege owing to a devastating drought, inadequate import tariff protection and other external factors.

The proposed tax, he noted, will compound matters and threaten the survival and sustainability of the industry.

“The sugar industry provides about 85 000 direct jobs, which represents over 11% of the total agricultural workforce in South Africa. Indirect employment is estimated at 350 000 jobs. Approximately 1% of South Africa’s population depend on the sugar industry for a living,” Lütge said.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Magazine Managing Editor

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

ASTPM
ASTPM

Established in 1983, the ASTPM is an industry association and representative body of the welded carbon steel tube and pipe manufacturers of South...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
ATI Systems
ATI Systems

ATI systems comprises five divisions: electrical assemblies, drives and controls, feedback sensors, enclosures, and strip guiding.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.064 0.091s - 110pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now