The General Fuel Levy and the Road Accident Fund levy were not increased, for the first time in more than two decades, and the Minister promised a review of the fuel price structure. OUTA campaigned for these in January.

• The annual tax-free threshold for individuals under the age of 65 increased from R87 300 to R91 250.

• Attempts are being made to cap the government wage bill, which were reinforced by the Constitutional Court decision on 28 February to dismiss the public sector unions’ application for the enforcement of the 2020 wage agreement (which would have given employees backdated increases).

• There were SOE bailouts, for Denel (R3bn) and SASRIA (now totaling R18bn for 2021/22) from the remaining 2021/22 budget, and R26bn mainly for Eskom, SAA and the Land Bank in 2022/23.

• No decision was made on the future of the e-tolls, and there was no bailout for SANRAL (SANRAL got a bailout of R3.740bn in 2021/22 to cover unpaid e-tolls).

• There was little extra funding for fighting state capture (see graphic).

• The Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA) is carrying on with the rollout of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act (AARTO), although in January 2022 OUTA won a high court order declaring AARTO unconstitutional. This is still to be confirmed by the Constitutional Court. The RTIA plans to spend R56m on education on AARTO and R155m rolling it out in 2022/23.

You can also read OUTA’s full press release here