You may not have heard, but South African tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Shuttleworth recently won an appeal against the South African Reserve Bank in which the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) was ordered to return R250m deducted as a levy for transferring his personal fortune overseas in 2009. Shuttleworth fought the levy on the basis that it was a tax deducted unconstitutionally, and eventually won.
Shuttleworth maintained that he wasn't actually interested in the cash itself, but the principle of "taxation without representation" should be opposed. He also maintained that strict exchange control laws in South Africa are stifling trade and investment.
True to his word, immediately after the judgement he donated the whole sum to be held in trust and used to finance cases for individuals who wanted to fight a matter regarding their constitutional rights in the courts but lacked their own finance to do so.
That gesture has now been dubbed "an act of aggression" by the South African Communist Party and its outspoken Secretary General, Blade Nzimande. Clearly not everyone was thrilled to find out that Shuttleworth will be helping the Average Joe take thing a little bit further than the Magistrate Court.
Addressing SACP and ANC supporters at the Red October rally recently, Nzimande said "This is an act of hostility, which I think we must take up as part of our financial sector campaign."
Hold on Mr Blade… are you suggesting that helping people like your supporters, who most certainly can't afford to take matters to the Constitutional Court, is a hostile act?
It would appear that Nzimande has got the wrong end of the stick somewhere, however. According to IOL the SACP believes this fund is to be used to help others move their money into tax exile – but according to his blog post, Shuttleworth's fund will be open to anyone to use and managed by local lawyers, academics and other experts in constitutional matters for selected cases where the defendant is the state and the plaintiff can't afford to act for themselves.
Because Shuttleworth's "it is expensive to litigate at the constitutional level… the State has the resources to make its argument, but the individual often does not" comment is totally out of place, right?
Kind Regards,
(mail sent from mobile)
EUGENE PRINSLOO
Partner
Meecham, Prinsloo & Associates
Paralegal Practitioners
Located on the South Coast, KZN
We offer professional assistance nationwide through a panel of expert service providers.
Call/SMS/Whats App 0813166983
BBM 288A44F5
BBM Channel PIN C00493F66
Email eugene@skuld.co.za
Fax 0862441324
Blog www.insolvencysa.blogspot.com
Websites:
www.skuld.co.za
www.nodebt.co.za
www.secondbonds.co.za
(Under Construction)
I am able to consult on the following matters:
GETTING RID OF DEBT
1) Insolvency applications.
2) Debt assessments.
3) Debt Review/Debt Counselling.
4) Debt Mediation in terms of the National Credit Act.
5) Removal of debt review, administration orders, and salary attachments/garnishee orders.
6) Credit profile clearance.
7) Any matter related to debt or debt collection where you feel you are being harassed or treated unfairly.
8) Tenant rights and eviction advice.
RENTAL MEDIATION
1) Landlord / Tenant Disputes
2) Blacklisting of bad payers
3) Credit Checks
4) Drafting of Agreements
5) Advice
ASSET PROTECTION
1) Trust registrations.
2) Business registrations.
ACQUIRING DEBT
1) Debt consolidation.
2) Buying a property, getting a home loan.
3) Second bonds.
4) Alternative property finance.
5) Advice on secured and unsecured debts. Short term loans.
6) Buying and financing a vehicle.
COLLECTING DEBT
When you are owed money, whether you are a person or business.
1) Debt collection for individuals.
2) Debt collection for business or Commercial debt collection.
3) Black listing or Default listing of debtors.
4) Debtors management.
5) Credit policy audits.
6) Debtor tracing.
CRIMINAL RECORDS
1) Verification of criminal records for employment or private use.
2) Removal of criminal records.
Disclaimer: Meecham & Prinsloo
Paralegal Practitioners cannot be held liable for any investment/legal decisions made based on the adv
