Dear Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana
Everyday people, experts and organisations that have been calling on Treasury to increase the sugary drinks tax to 20% for the past 5 years. Treasury showed foresight with its 2016 proposal of a 20% tax and a tax cut-off level of 1 or 2 grams per 100ml, but the tax was watered down due to industry greed and is now only 11%. Since 2017, in the lead up to nearly every budget speech and mid-term budget policy statement, members of the public have been calling for you to increase the Sugary Drinks Tax (Health Promotion Levy) to 20% and/or include 100% fruit juices under the Sugary Drinks Tax. That’s 17,692 signatures and 395 public comments.
Now more than ever, we need Treasury to put the health of people in Mzansi first. We would like to remind you of the commitment by Treasury Deputy Director General Ismail Momoniat that Treasury will “… increase the tax until we get the result we need” [1]. We hope your interests lie with the health of the people and not with the food and beverages industry’s profits.
[1] Sugary drinks tax set for April next year. Kerry Cullinan for Health-E News September 2017