Johannesburg - The ANC took a resolution at its elective conference in Mangaung last year to introduce a tax on graduates, the Sowetan newspaper reported on Thursday.
Conference delegates participating in the education and health commission resolved that consideration “must be given to a graduate tax for all graduates from higher education institutions”.
Details of the mooted tax were scant, with no explanation given about time lines for implementation, or the likely percentage to be levied, the newspaper reported.
SA Students Congress secretary-general Themba Masondo, who participated in the education commission, confirmed the agreement on the tax. He told the newspaper Sasco was against it.
“As an organisation we raised a number of issues with this tax. They are not so clear about how it will work.”
Masondo was in favour of a general levy that would see high income earners paying more.
According to the ANC resolutions, the tax was intended to bolster the coffers of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, which was expected to play a major role in government's plans to introduce free education to all undergraduate students, the newspaper reported.
Free education was likely to be introduced next year. - Sapa