A number of Twitter users said that Mantashe summed up how they felt.
Cape Town – While Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s Budget speech brought joy to some, his announcement of an increase in sin tax did cause one Member of Parliament’s reaction to go viral.
Delivering the 2020 National Budget Policy Statement in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Mboweni announced that a “bottle of 750 ml spirits, including whisky, gin or vodka, will rise by R2.89”. At that exact moment, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe rubbed his hand over his face.
The action was caught on TV and when it was posted to Twitter many people couldn’t resist weighing in on the look on the minister’s face. A number of Twitter users said that Mantashe summed up how they felt.
A bottle of 750ml of spirits, whiskey , gin and vodka will rise by R 2.89c
🙆🏽♂️ Gwede Mantashe 🥃
😂😂😂😂
#BudgetSpeech2020pic.twitter.com/8ZCmJ81Npe
— Tall_Black_Guy (@_tallblackguy)February 26, 2020
I don’t drink I don’t smoke am unTexed 😂😂😂😂😂😂 …but gwede look on the increase of Vodka😂😂#BudgetSpeech2020
— Sihle nkwanyana (@sihle_nkwanyana)February 26, 2020
The reaction by Gwede was priceless#BudgetSpeech2020pic.twitter.com/8HKkJwKcWS
— Velemseni Zulu (@VelemseniZulu)February 26, 2020
Gwede felt that R2.89c increase on spirits& whiskey😂😂😂#BudgetSpeech2020
— Issa Mess™️ (@Ngubenil)February 26, 2020
He was like😂pic.twitter.com/0m5oHYHutv
— monare (@ItsSirMo)February 26, 2020
Gwede is not in agreement with the increase of Gin and Whiskey#BudgetSpeech2020pic.twitter.com/5cyLB3EAjQ
— Bad Influencer ® (@Landless_Native)February 26, 2020
Gwede reaction about the increase of alcohol 😂#BudgetSpeech2020
— Xolié (@XolieMahlangu)February 26, 2020
Champopo going up! Gin also, Bhab Gwede just broke a sweat.
— #AmINextThato (@Thato_MCC)February 26, 2020
Gwede not happy about vodka going up 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Mbali ka Macingwane (@mamchunu)February 26, 2020
Guys Gwede khange ayithande eye whiskey#BudgetSpeech2020pic.twitter.com/I0PHCeUPNk
— MXhosakazi 👑 (@MandieTshwete)February 26, 2020
Gwede’s reaction 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣#BudgetSpeech2020pic.twitter.com/dNnhsIUqe7
— ㄥ乇乇 (@IamLeeCore)February 26, 2020
Mboweni also announced that in line with Department of Health policy the government would start taxing heated tobacco products such as hookah or “hubbly bubbly”.
“The rate will be set at 75 per cent of the rate of cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes, or so-called vapes, will be taxed from 2021.”
Mboweni increased excise duties “to keep pace with inflation” from today:
– A 340ml can of beer or cider will cost only an extra 8c
– A 750ml bottle of wine will cost an extra 14c
– A 750ml bottle of sparkling wine an extra 61c
– A bottle of 750 ml spirits, including whisky, gin or vodka, will rise by R2.89
– A packet of 20 cigarettes will be an extra 74c
– A 25 gram of piped tobacco will cost 40c more
– A 23 gram cigar will cost an extra R6.73
He did, however, report “that there is no increase in the price of sorghum beer”.
Here are some other reactions to the news of an increase in sin tax:
Obviously Sin tax is going up akere y’all don’t want to come to God#BudgetSpeech2020pic.twitter.com/LEBbjszXhZ
— K U L A N I (@kulanicool)February 26, 2020
Me after the sin tax increases:pic.twitter.com/bXX5Rnm0pJ
— Labhuti womphokoqo (@C_Mbadu)February 26, 2020
I knew alcohol would increase 😭😭💔💔I’M NOT OKAY GUYS.#BudgetSpeech2020pic.twitter.com/9CwcPHq4Qw
— 🌈 Adebiyi 👑🤴 (@MrWhite_Mhlambi)February 26, 2020
Lmao… government is doing the things, until umqombothi (utshwala besizulu) is sold koTops and clubs#SinTax must keep rising.pic.twitter.com/1PxELQ6jMi
— Njoms (@njomane_tdh)February 26, 2020
Sin Tax will always hike up because that’s were addictions lie, and that means “constant revenue” for the state.
A typical alcoholic will not mind to be drinking R450 per week if he earns a weekly wage of R900…#BudgetSpeech2020
— Masonwabe Mthombeni (@Maso241119)February 26, 2020
No sin tax formed against me shall prosper!#BudgetSpeech2020https://t.co/W9D6qLuhgs
— Phaks Phalo👑 (@SirPhaks)February 26, 2020
Cape Argus
