South Africans are generally self-reliant if they want to live free from violence. Security and safety equipment are not cheap. It is a huge expense, but an extremely necessary one. For this reason, TLU SA wants to start a real action to change Section 23 (b) of the Income Tax Act – which prevents the public from deducting security expenses from income tax.
Public participation in legislation, oversight and other processes of Parliament is an important constitutional provision of our democracy. The Parliament has developed several ways to promote public involvement in the work of the institution. One way in which the public can exercise their right to participate in Parliament is by submitting a petition.
The following are essential expenses for every household in South Africa and TLU SA wants to see them become tax deductible:
- Defence walls,
- security cameras,
- burglar bars,
- electric fences,
- razor wire,
- guard dogs,
- 24-hour monitoring and armed response services,
- home insurance,
- other home security measures and equipment; and
- expenses relating to the maintenance of the above items.
With sufficient support, TLU SA can and will petition parliament.
SIGN THE PETITION
You can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of violence.
Countless South Africans have been subjected to the gravest invasion of their freedom by becoming victims of violence.
Section 12(1)(c) of the Constitution requires the state to protect us from such invasions by restraining criminals and discouraging others from committing criminal acts. However, the state’s utter failure to do so is painfully apparent, just from looking at its own statistics.
According to Stats SA, housebreaking or burglary is the number one crime in South Africa. An estimated 1,2 million housebreaking incidents occurred in the 2019/20 statistical year alone, affecting 891,000 households in our country. Like those on farms, South Africans living in remote areas are particularly vulnerable, as they reside far from any form of assistance.
Considering the grave danger South Africans face daily, it is utterly disgraceful that the state does not allow security expenditure incurred by a taxpayer in securing their residence to be deducted from their income tax.
Section 23(b) of the Income Tax Act prohibits us from deducting security expenses from our income tax, crippling our efforts to safeguard our homes and households.
The following are essential expenses for each household in South Africa and must be 100% tax-deductible –
- defensive walls;
- security cameras;
- burglar alarms;
- electric fences;
- razor wire;
- guard dogs;
- 24-hour monitoring and armed-response services;
- home insurance;
- other home security measures and equipment; and
- expenses pertaining to the upkeep of the items, as mentioned above.
YOU CAN HELP US CHANGE THE LAW AND SAVE YOUR LOVED ONES
Section 77 of the Constitution affords only the minister of finance the power to instigate the abovementioned amendment. Our home safety, the lives of our husbands, wives, children, parents, brothers and sisters are in his hands.
We call on all peace-loving South Africans, regardless of race, gender, age, or creed, to join us in one voice, demanding Minister Tito Mboweni amend the Constitution as mentioned above (click here). You can add your voice by sending the email below directly to the minister through this secure portal:
The letter below will accompany your submission:
Dear Minister Tito Mboweni,
South Africans are in a struggle for freedom from crime. We are good God-fearing people seeking to protect our own lives and the lives of those under our care from the criminal elements in our society.
These amendments recognise the measures we have already taken to protect ourselves in a country riddled with crime and allows us to create a safer future free from assault, robbery, rape, murder, torture and the like.
In short:
Please allow us to push back against the criminals that keep us prisoner, in our own homes or at least allow us to strengthen the bars that keep them from entering.
