By Adia Jildo
The Juba City Deputy Mayor for Physical Infrastructure, Thiik Thiik Mayardit has blamed unclear revenue collection policy for the numerous and unnecessary taxations harming traders and the common man.
Thiik Thiik made the statement during the launch of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) office in Konyo-Konyo which will enable the safe and timely payment and collection of taxes.
“We don’t know what belongs to us and to the revenue authority. We are crumbling on one person” he said.
“You even get the fire brigade inside here, police, national security taking taxes. You can get more than 19 people collecting taxes from one trader” he disclosed.
Thiik Thiik said the act is exploiting the traders and in turn making the common man who is the final consumer to bear the consequences.
“It’s only in South Sudan where anyone can go to the market to collect taxes” Thiik noted.
“We have a lot of money in South Sudan and I believe that if we are allowed to challenge ourselves, we can challenge ourselves but the money is going to individual pockets” he pointed.
The Deputy Mayor for Physical Infrastructure blamed the act of corruption on the delay or failure in payment of arrears.
The National Minister of Finance and Planning Agak Achuil Lual however pointed out malpractices citing different institutional acts which have brought mess hence burdening businesses and consumers.
“There are a lot of people collecting taxes in the market. The more we collect taxes, the more the traders will add the prices up. It all adds to the goods and we pay it indirectly,” he cited.
He said there is need for the harmonization of taxes to reduce inflation in the market and services.
“The issue of taxes is a very big problem,” Minister Agak emphasized.
The Finance Minister called for creation of awareness to the public to orient people on the tax policies.