South African lawmakers plan to increase value added tax by 0.5% to boost health and defense budgets, with an additional 28.9 billion rand allocated for health spending to offset U.S. aid cuts. The move aims to support the health system’s response to HIV, which has 5.5 million people on antiretroviral drugs, while also allocating 5 billion rand to strengthen military forces. The government also plans to raise VAT by another 0.5% annually to fund various sectors, sparking criticism from political and civic groups but seen as necessary to maintain social welfare programs and avoid further spending cuts.
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Post and boast: Lawyer’s warning crackdown on ‘crim-fluencers’ could target ‘political material’ online
Labor's proposed "post and boast" laws, aimed at curbing online glorification of crime, face potential legal challenges from environmental activists concerned about free speech implications, especially regarding protests. Critics argue the legislation could disproportionately affect Indigenous communities and stifle peaceful protests, while the government asserts it targets only illegal activities. Want More Context? 🔎
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