Press Room
SARS offers more time for VAT hike reversals
Keitumetse Sesana said the VAT increase reversal was good news for businesses, as many were considering absorbing the increase to cushion consumers. But she warned that there needed to be certainty about the court case brought by the DA and EFF challenging the original VAT increase which was still continuing.
6 min read
Reversal of VAT increase. All good?
A discussion with SAIT’s Mabutho Mthembu about the recent withdrawal of the proposed VAT increase.
14 min video
ANC’s Mbalula calls for ‘constructive talks’ for future bills
Mbalula was speaking at a joint media briefing in Sandton, Johannesburg, attended by the 11 political parties who voted in favour of passing the budget with the understanding of possible reforms of the fiscal framework.
3 min read
VAT remains at 15%
In conversation with Professor Keith Engel the Chief Executive Officer for the South African Institute of Tax Professionals to give reaction to the VAT aversion by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
No VAT increase. Is this good for business?
A discussion with the Strategic Lead for Stakeholder Engagement and Legislation at SAIT, Keitumetse Sesana, about the recent withdrawal of the proposed VAT increase. Int: Keitumetse Sesana.
7 min interview
Government’s late VAT hike reversal hits business
The government’s last-minute reversal of the VAT hike sparked criticism, as businesses had already spent millions.
3 min read
Withdrawing the VAT increase is good news for business but…
Last week it was still all systems go for the VAT rate to increase to 15.5% on 1 May 2025. This morning South African businesses and consumers woke up to the news that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has withdrawn the proposed increase of 0.5 percentage points.
Urgent court application to halt VAT increase
The High Court in Cape Town is hearing an urgent application to halt a VAT increase brought by the DA and the EFF. Both parties challenge the legality and constitutionality of the hike, announced as part of the revised fiscal framework.
6 minute video
No adjustments in personal income tax and inflation
The National Treasury has decided not to adjust personal income tax brackets and rebates for inflation in the 2025/26 financial year. This may result in a higher tax liability should you receive a salary increase. South African Institute of Taxation’s Keitumetse Sesana explains what this means.
11 minute video
How taxes are killing South Africa’s economy
In this episode of Money, Markets and Masterminds, Citywire South Africa and Keith Engel (pictured below), CEO of the South African Institute of Taxation, break down the true impact of government tax policies. We explore whether the country is pushing past the top of the Laffer Curve, how tax complexity is strangling businesses and the economy, and why endless hikes might do more harm than good.
5 minute read
What is VAT? Keitumetse Sesana breaks it down
What is VAT? SAIT’s Keitumetse Sesana breaks it down.
5 minute read
VAT increases by 0.5 percent point – reaction
A discussion with Keitumetse Sesana of the South African Institute of Taxation, about the 2025 Budget Speech.
9 minute video
Godongwana set to re-introduce budget delayed by VAT dispute
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to re-introduce budget delayed by VAT dispute. South African Institute of Taxation CEO, Keith Engel and KPMG Lead Economist, Frank Blackmore Watch video for more.
1 min video
What is bracket creep? Keitumetse Sesana tells us more
Bracket creep is a term to describe an increase in taxes that occurs when the marginal tax brackets are not adjusted annually for inflation.
5 minute read
Budget Speech to be delivered tomorrow
Newzroom Afrika presenter discusses the budget speech expectations with Keitumetse Sesana from the South African Institute of Taxation. Watch interview
8 min 26 sec video
Discussions around the contentions VAT increase
As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table his budget speech tomorrow, various sectors including ordinary South Africans will be waiting with baited breath to see if there will be a VAT increase. While some are calling for an increase in the allocation for local government. Also having unions warning government not to renege on the 5.5 percent wage offer that was presented to unions in the public sector. Prof Keith Engel, CEO of the South Africans Institute of Taxation weighs in.
9 min video |
Could we still see a hike in VAT when the budget is tabled?
South Africans may still face an increase in VAT when the revised budget is tabled in March unless the government’s proposed spending plans are revised.
Tax experts share their views at the SAIT post-budget event.
6 min read |
Different types of taxes that we pay
In a conversation with Professor Keith Engel, CEO at the South African Institute of Taxation about the different types of taxes that we pay following the postponement of a budget speech due to the disagreements about the two-percentage point increase in VAT.
24 minute audio
Could we still see a hike in VAT when the budget is tabled?
South Africans may still face an increase in VAT when the revised Budget is tabled in March unless the government’s proposed spending plans are revised. Panelists at the SAIT post-budget event discuss.
5 minute read
Budget speech postponed to March – Keith Engel
The Democratic Alliance said the postponement of the national budget speech is the victory for the people of South Africa as it prevents the implementation of a 2% VAT increase that could severely impacted the country’s economy. To explore this issue joint by South African Institute of Taxation, CEO, Prof. Keith Engel.
1 min 52 second video
2025 Budget Speech has been postponed
The much-awaited 2025 Budget Speech has been postponed. This comes as there have been disagreements within the Government of National Unity over the budget. The Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced that the amended Budget will be announced on March 12. Interview with the North West University Business School Economist Professor Raymond Parsons and The South African Institute of Taxation CEO Professor Keith Engel, on the implications of the Budget Speech being postponed.
18 minute 32 second video
SA Institute of Taxation on budget speech postponement
Discussion about the proposed increase in VAT which derailed the budget speech. The DA had warned it would not vote for such a budget in Parliament. The SA Institute of Taxation CEO Keith Engel comments.
10 minute 8 seconds video
Keith Engel rejects possibility of tax increase
The South African Taxation Institute CEO, Keith Engel has rejected the possibility of a vat increase and his comments comes ahead of Finance Minister’s first budget speech set to be delivered in Cape Town this afternoon, it’s the first under the Government of National Unity.
2 minute 15 seconds watch
Expectations on tax changes
With the 2025 National Budget Speech just a day away, critical tax and economic policy changes will soon be unveiled. Experts believe finance minister Enoch Godongwana will announce a raft of tax adjustments including VAT, personal income tax and corporate tax, to cover the revenue shortfall.
2 minutes and 57 video
SAIT CEO, Keith Engel Shares 2025 Budget Expectations
In an interview on On Point with Liabo Setho, SAIT CEO Keith Engel discussed anticipated tax policy changes ahead of the 2025 National Budget Speech.
6 min read | 7 min video
Protecting Taxpayers: SAIT’s Role in Tackling eFiling Profile Hijacking
In a recent Ilungelo Lako interview on SABC Live, Keitumetse Sesana, SAIT’s Strategic Lead for Stakeholder Engagement and Legislation, joined the Tax Ombud to discuss the rise in digital tax fraud.
1 min read | 2 min 26 sec video
Jeremy’s weekly wrap: Trump’s SA rift, wage hikes and tax forecasts
And then, with Budget 2025 just around the corner, Keith Engel, CEO of the South African Institute of Taxation, joined us to discuss key tax developments.
5 minute read
Understanding the Tax Ombud’s eFiling Security Survey: Insights from SAIT
Keitumetse Sesana joined eNCA’s Uveka Rangappa to discuss the increasing threat of eFiling profile hijacking and how taxpayers can protect themselves.
1 min read | 2 min 26 sec video
Key tax changes in 2025
Understanding if there will be key tax changes in 2025 with Keith Engel, CEO of the South African Institute of Taxation.
5 minute read
SA’s 2025 tax landscape: Risks, compliance and key changes
‘I think the biggest one that people are worried about is the NHI, which would then say goodbye to the medical credits. It’s only a matter of time before medical credits go,’ says Keith Engel, CEO of the South African Institute of Taxation.
7 minute 37 second podcast
SA’s 2025 tax landscape: risks, compliance and key changes
SAIT CEO, Keith Engel, recently sat with Jeremy Maggs of @Moneyweb for an interview discussing SA’s 2025 tax landscape: risks, compliance and key changes.
‘US funding to SA minimal’ – SA government
What impact will a loss of US funding really have on SA? How SA’s labour law can help the Just Energy Transition process and what happens when the pilot can’t fly the plane? SAIT CEO Professor Keith Engel engages with Jeremy Maggs and other guests to deliberate on the matter.
30 minute podcast
Excise taxes on beer – balancing revenue and health
Excise taxes on beer have become a contentious issue, raising concerns about their impact on consumers, producers and the economy. Professor Keith Engel of SAIT shares his views.
5 minute read
Tabling of new fiscal framework
Chief Economist at Econometrix, Dr Azar Jammine and Prof Keith Engel, CEO of the South African Institute of Taxation talk about the implications of the National treasury having to table the new fiscal framework.
8 min 49 second video
SARS gives window for VAT increase reversals
Sars gives window for VAT increase reversals BACKTRACKING
5 min read
Now you see it, now you don’t
In mid-April it was still all systems go for the VAT rate to increase to 15.5% on 1 May 2025. A week later, South African businesses and consumers woke up to the news that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana had withdrawn the proposed increase of 0.5 percentage points.
3 min read
SARS gives businesses more time for VAT increase reversals
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) has given businesses and service providers that cannot immediately reverse the 15.5% VAT charge an opportunity to do so by May 15.
3 min read
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