Duties on imported goods are essentially just another tax consumers have to bear
Cash-strapped SA consumers are struggling to keep food on the table and meet monthly obligations as they battle through a weak, low-growth post-Covid-19 economy, and are now facing the additional burden of surging global and local inflation.
This has obvious and dire consequences for the health and welfare of families, especially children. Consumers — also voters — legitimately look to their government to provide relief and support, and the government has in turn made clear that it is aware of the extreme economic challenges faced by the public.
While the increased cost of tyres would hit consumers directly, it would also be felt in the increased cost of transport, which feeds into general inflation. According to the Road Freight Association more than 80% of medicines, food, goods and fuel is transported by road. While consumers could bear increases in a strong economic and low inflation environment, they cannot afford to pay the price for localisation in the present climate. The government needs to weigh up the impact of its protectionist policies and understand who requires more urgent relief: a handful of local businesses or millions of cash-strapped SA consumers.
Likewise, hefty tariffs have been imposed by the government on imported frozen potato fries, despite local farmers' yields of the potato varieties that are required to make chips. Consumers of burgers & chips,are going to feel this sharply in the coming months. SA’s children may need to get used to fish fingers without fries.
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