Alcohol, vape and smoking tax INCREASES for South Africa

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered his much-anticipated budget speech on Wednesday afternoon.

ALCOHOL, VAPE AND SMOKING TAX INCREASES FOR SOUTH AFRICA

It comes amid high unemployment rates, rising living costs, and a tough economic environment.

ALCOHOL INCREASES:

For alcohol products excise duties, above-inflation increases of between 6.7 and 7.2 per cent for 2024/25 are proposed. This means:

• A can of beer increases by 14 cents;
• A can of a cider and alcoholic fruit beverage goes up by 14 cents; • A bottle of wine will cost an extra 28 cents;
• A bottle of fortified wine will cost an extra 47 cents;
• A bottle of sparkling wine will cost an extra 89 cents, and
• A bottle of spirits, including whisky, gin or vodka, increases by R5.53.

SMOKERS WILL ALSO PAY MORE:

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We also propose increasing tobacco excise duties by 4.7 per cent for cigarettes and cigarettes and by 8.2 per cent for pipe tobacco and cigars. This translates to:

• A R9.51 cents increase for cigars;
• A 97-cent increase in a pack of cigarettes and
• An extra 57 cents for a pipe of tobacco.

YES, YOU READ CORRECTLY- VAPERS WILL ALSO PAY MORE

“You will be happy to hear then, that we are tabling an increase of the excise duty on electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems, known as vapes, to R3.04 per millilitre.”

Enoch Godongwana said.

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 Godongwana also confirmed Wednesday that the permanent SASSA grants will be INCREASED.

Godongwana delivered his 2024 Budget Speech to Parliament on Wednesday.

Permanent social grants are increased to keep pace with inflation and increase access:

• An increase of R100 to the old age, war veterans, disability and care dependency grants. This amount will be divided into R90 effective from April and R10 effective October;
• A R50 increase to the foster care grant; and
• A R20 increase to the child support grant.

THE SRD GRANT WILL BE IMPROVED BY APRIL

“We are sensitive to the increase in the cost of living for the nearly 19 million South Africans who rely on these grants to make ends meet.

“In this regard, we have done as much as the fiscal envelope allows. Work is currently underway to improve the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant by April this year.”

ALSO READ: CONFIRMED: Here are the official SASSA grants INCREASES