ON THE one hand government pleads for people to create jobs. But on the other it sends the message
that it will fleece small business for every cent it can get. As a close corporation with high turnover but small gross profit, I have been charged R4000 by the Companies & Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), for which I receive absolutely nothing other than reading about the problems that faced Astrid Ludin when she tackled the unions. She should have known Minister Rob Davies would side with them, so as not to upset his masters. What is extremely puzzling is that for up to R50m turnover the CIPC fee is R100 and over R50m it jumps to R4000. In my case the wildly fluctuating petrol price affects my turnover but not my
profit. The inept handling of our economy has an impact on many small businesses. The rocket scientists in government seem unable to look at the various industries when promulgating new laws. They assume that one size fits all.
This is the result of having inexperienced people parachuted into jobs in which they have no interest. They get the positions purely because they are loyal cadres.

Tony Ball, Durban