The hand that rocks the cradle : the African youth's perceptions on taxation

Abstract

People have become increasingly helpless and confused about the impact of taxation on their daily lives. Many people consider a great deal of the money levied on taxation to be spent unwisely, and that the manner in which taxes is collected is also often unwise. However, there seems to be little that they – or even that governments can do – to control processes which have acquired their own momentum. This paper focuses on the African youth of South Africa, as they are the future voters and taxpayers of the country. The South African youth of today are aware that they are truly a unique generation of South Africans. Never before have so many young people had as many opportunities for interchange, for learning, and for dreaming of a better future. Drawing from the theorising of Schwartz (1972), Flanigan (1978) and Withrow, Long and Marx (1999) on the relevancy of education, the primary aim of this research paper was to provide an overview of the perception on taxation under previously disadvantaged black South African learners and to identify whether a need for more tax education and training exists. From this paper it is clear that South African learners are eager to learn more about taxation. In addition, it is submitted that there is no better tool for a government to strengthen the fragile fabric of a young democracy than to provide the future electorate of that country with knowledge on taxes – the means by which that same government is funded.