OPINION | Pravin Gordhan changed the way South Africans see taxation
One of Pravin Gordhan's lasting contributions to democratic South Africa was to change the way people perceive revenue collection - from being weaponised to being a tool for social development, sayswork at SARS was nothing short of revolutionary, taking a system that had, for generations, been a tool of oppression and transforming it into a cornerstone of democratic governance.
The roots of this oppressive system can be traced back to the 1800s during the mineral revolution. British imperialists ingeniously used taxation as a mechanism to control the behaviours and movements of black Africans, while simultaneously developing a cheap mining labour force. The introduction of hut taxes and poll taxes forced black Africans into the cash economy, compelling them to seek employment in mines and on white-owned farms to pay these imposed levies.
This system of fiscal oppression created a deeply fractured relationship between the state and the majority black South African population. Taxation, instead of being a civic duty contributing to the common good, became synonymous with subjugation and racial inequality.It was into this fractured system that Pravin Gordhan stepped, armed with a vision for transformation and an unwavering commitment to justice.
The introduction of e-filing, automated systems, and data analytics not only made tax compliance easier but also more transparent. This technological leap forward was more than an administrative upgrade; it was a powerful statement about the new South Africa – one where the tax system would serve all citizens equally and efficiently.
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