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The budget, road freight logistics and the consumer – what does it really mean? By Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association
Taxpayers The Road Freight Association (RFA) notes that the planned additional R20 billion to be taken from individual taxpayers has been dropped – thank goodness for that. This is only due to the commodities boom that has saved our necks (what does that mean, then, for 2027 should the commodities boon have long disappeared)? The question remains as to whether that “boon” will
portion of our association membership. This means those businesses have a fighting chance to grow – something we have debated and discussed with various government departments at length over a decade, at least. It is important to understand that cash injections (ie initial funding) do not guarantee business stability and growth.
The real key to sustainability lies in building bulkheads - strong protections to ensure that assets appreciate and the business develops securely. This latest step
still go into that deep, dark pit of government spending. Both personal income tax brackets and capital gains tax have had thresholds raised in terms of inflation – a very good sign and another relief for the average citizen.
Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association.
Our intention is to bolster public-private investment in rail operations while retaining state ownership of rail infrastructure. The objective is to move goods faster, cheaper and more reliably.
puts us on the right path. It allows cash starved (capital rich) businesses to grow with some protection, before they become exposed to “fuller/further reaching” taxation.
More importantly: asset disposals for small businesses will be exempted to a maximum of R15 million. SMMEs make up 80% of our association: this exemption is vital for their sustainability and growth. Similarly, VAT and turnover taxes will also be raised for micro businesses to consider inflationary pressures – a huge “win” for another
Levies and other taxes The largest levy faced by the road freight sector has to be the “general fuel
levy” – yet there are a plethora of so-called “stealth taxes” in vehicle sales (carbon taxes), more visible tolls, licence fees, permits and special tariffs for special operations, municipal compliance and registration tariffs for “dangerous goods – both
28 MODERN MINING www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | April 2026
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