Teens reach new heights
For many teenagers in Westlake, a community tucked between the slopes of the Constantiaberg mountains, the towering silhouette of Table Mountain is a familiar part of the skyline. But for some, seeing it from afar was the closest they had ever come until now
A group of high school learners experienced the iconic landmark up close for the first time, thanks to an educational outing organised
Work with the tax man
If you’ve been doom-scrolling through news about Sars’ fancy new artificial intelligence (AI) tools hunting down tax dodgers, take a deep breath Sure, the South African taxman is getting smarter, but that doesn’t mean you need to panic
Here’s the thing: in a country where only 7,4 million people out of 64 million actually pay personal income tax (while 28 million rely on social grants), Sars is obviously feeling the pressure to collect every rand they can But instead of running for the hills, why not flip the script and make tax season work for you?
“Whether you have an accountant, a tax practitioner or file your own tax return, look out for the following points to legally reduce what you owe Sars, maximise refunds, and combat tax debt in 2025,” says Roxanna Naidoo, Head of Global Strategy at Latita Africa
STOPPANICKING,START PLANNING
“It’s true that Sars is increasing scrutiny and ramping up tax collection measures, ” admits Naidoo, who’s been seeing more clients getting those dreaded final demand letters and verification requests lately “But don’t panic Tax season is an annual opportunity to assess your finances – a tool for getting your tax affairs in order ” Her advice? “Go have a look at what you owe Sars; you may be surprised that Sars actually owes you money ”
GETYOURDIGITALHOUSEINORDER
First things first – update your details on Sars’ eFiling system We’re talking email address, phone number, banking details – the works Get this wrong and you’ll be hit with penalties faster than you can say “auto-assessment”
Plus, having accurate details unlocks Sars’ newer tools like the
express filing feature, which basically pre-fills your tax return using data from your employer, bank, and medical aid It’s like having a personal assistant, except it’s free and works for the government
DON’TTRUST,ALWAYSVERIFY
Here’s where things get interesting That shiny auto-assessment might look tempting to just click and submit, but Naidoo has a warning: “Don’t simply accept your auto-assessment without verifying it ”
Why? Because Sars’ AI might miss the nuances of your financial life – like rental income, your side-hustle selling succulents on Facebook Marketplace, or other income streams Even if the mistake isn’t technically your fault, guess who’s liable for penalties later?
(Spoiler: it’s you )
“Check everything carefully,” Naidoo emphasises “If you ’ re unhappy with the auto-assessment, click on ‘request amendment’ and submit the corrections via eFiling ”
TURNSARSINTOREFUNDMACHINE
Yes, you need to declare every income stream – even that cryptocurrency windfall or your overseas earnings that were already taxed abroad But here’s the kicker: after declaring everything, you can start claiming back through deductions, exemptions, and credits
NAIDOO’SHITLISTINCLUDES:
. Medical expenses
. Retirement annuity contributions
. Charitable donations (with those precious 18A certificates) . Home office and travel expenses
. Tax-free savings accounts
. Capital gains tax benefits
THE PAPER TRAIL CULD SAVE YOU
Remember that shoebox of receipts gathering dust? Time to become best friends with it “It doesn’t matter how and where you file these, as long as you keep them for five years, ” says Naidoo “Sars often requests back-dated documentation, so make sure you have the paperwork to prove your filing was compliant ” Pro tip: go digital Scan everything, back it up, and thank yourself later when Sars comes knocking with questions about your 2022 filing
When you actually owe money If you do end up owing Sars money, don’t sell your kidney to pay them immediately “Taxpayers have legal recourse to avoid sinking further into debt,” Naidoo points out
YOUROPTIONSINCLUDE:
. Negotiating to reduce the amount owed
. Deferring payments to ease cash flow
. Submitting a suspension of payment if you think Sars got it wrong
. Mediation to settle disputes without breaking the bank
THEBOTTOMLINE
“If you ’ re smart about it, you can still turn this tax season from a compliance burden into financial opportunity,” says Naidoo
So while everyone else is complaining about Sars’ new AI overlords, you could be the one laughing all the way to the bank –or at least not crying all the way to the poor house
The choice is yours: stress about tax season or strategise through it We know which one sounds (and is) better
DHAextendingofficehourstoassistlearners
To help learners apply for or collect their identity documents the Department of Home Affairs is extending its operating hours to 18:00
This special extension runs until Monday 21 July To ease pressure on its clients
Home Affairs has also introduced dedicated counters for collections in large offices that process Smart ID Cards and passports, where space allows
The department also allows clients who may not have an opportunity to book appointments to visit as walk-ins
Dr Leon Schreiber, Home Affairs Minister, said: “I would like to encourage all clients who have applied for their identification documents and have been waiting for three weeks or more to seize this opportunity by visiting their Home
Affairs office to collect these critical documents at their convenience ” . Clients have an option to book an application or collection appointments before visiting offices,using the Branch Appointment Booking Systemon the https://services.dha. gov za/#/authenticate/identity
“Dearly beloved We are gathered here today to get through this thing called life ” These ominous words from the late great artist Prince have eerily become prophetic for capturing the anxiety, confusion and uncertainty of our society we face today Even though these lyrics were birthed in the 80s, some of the same socio-economic issues that plagued the previous generations have either multiplied or remain largely ignored by our government and municipalities, who are so quick to applaud their own projects on social media and advertise the idea that they’re “making a difference” with creating jobs and
helping the poor in these impoverished communities
The great irony that haunts our 30-year old democracy is the fact that our bleeding economy keeps spilling over despite how many times our president shuffles his cabinet or launches projects that promise to solve load shedding, corruption and create more jobs
With raging wars in Ukraine and Gaza compounded with the fact that President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 30% tax on South African exports, our pockets face another pinch with the current rising price of goods and petrol
In SA, crime, gender-based violence, homelessness and unemployment still haunt our youth who now have to adapt their career choices in the wake of Artificial Intelligence (Al) Al’s sudden popularity has become inescapable with many
companies now capitalising in its efficiency to streamline and propel their advertising in the hopes of maximising their profits by smothering the market
However, now more than ever our education departments, teachers and tertiary institutions have to swiftly find ways to incorporate this technology into their curriculums for fear of being overtaken by other countries making great strides in training the new generation with Al’s benefits
However, what should remain an essential factor amidst our rush to understand and incorporate Al in our careers to help society, is our critical thinking, which is more crucial than ever in the fast-paced times we live in Today’s students have easier access and methods to plagiarise in their work and essays which are meant to express their unique opinions on important
issues This also makes the work of lecturers and tutors even harder when it comes to marking and identifying patterns of fraud with Chat GPT improving and updating weekly
Even today when you ’ re doom-scrolling you can discover an amazing animation of a podcast showcasing zoo animals discussing their weekend plans and using South African swear words until you realise this content was Al generated This content has become absurdly popular which begs the question, are we starting to use entertainment to numb ourselves to death and become dopamine addicted sheep? Today more than ever, we need critical thinkers, artists, politicians and readers who will lead our country, so that we may thrive and harness the power of Al for our communities in the age of shrinking attention spans
KEANAN HARMSE
A Wynberg East reclaims its past
Newproductiontargetslearnersbattlinganxiety
A new theatre experience is set to tour Cape Town schools this August, equipping learners with emotional tools to better navigate anxiety, bullying and the demands of a fast-paced, digital world
Entitled High Five, the interactive theatre production will run from Monday 4 to Friday 29 August, its first performance at Micklefield School in Rondebosch
Created by Kay Cheytanov, an entrepreneur through her education company 3RC, the show debuted in primary schools earlier this year, reaching more than 6 900 learners, and was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from both teachers and learners
“Children engaged on a deep level,” Cheytanov said “Teachers told us their classrooms felt
different afterwards Kids had new language to express how they were feeling, and schools immediately asked when we'd be back That confirmed we were doing something important ”
High Five uses performance, movement, music and storytelling to help children understand and manage difficult emotions such as fear, stress and peer pressure At its core are five simple yet powerful emotional wellness tools: kindness, safety, resilience, bravery and individuality These themes are woven through each performance in ways children can connect with
The idea for High Five was born out of Cheytanov’s own experience as a parent “When my daughter was bullied at school I saw how anxiety and isolation can take hold,” she said “It broke my heart But I also knew I could do
something
“I’ve always believed in the power of theatre to connect and heal So I used my background in education and performance to create something that could speak directly to kids, in their language, on their level ”
The Cape Town leg of the tour will also include a media launch on Thursday 14 August
Guests will hear from Cheytanov about her 25year journey in education and her work through 3RC, which includes the well-known Rocking Future career expos A screening of the High Five show will run from 11:30 to 12:30, followed by reflections from learners
Cape Town forms part of a national tour “My hope is that this show not only helps children, but also gives teachers and parents new ways to
connect with them emotionally,” she said Feedback from teachers and families in Gauteng demonstrates that the show has already had a lasting impact “One teacher told us the show ‘opened a doorway’ to talk about emotions more openly in class A parent shared how her son came home and asked, ‘Do you ever feel wobbly inside too?’ That kind of emotional intelligence, that awareness, is what we want to nurture
“We’re building a generation of children who are not only career-ready but emotionally prepared for life ”
3RC’s future plans include adapting the show for older learners and developing multilingual versions “We’re just getting started,” said Cheytanov
Teams gear-up for finals
mpressed with other ng teams Newmans m to watch in future taliaspor is the team med in the Platinum t space of time the into a powerhouse r in the Western
n the semi-final 2-0 n Spurs and Anpenalties against the ions Ubuntu by 4-3 n, the chair of Newe organising team r the professional the tournament was
presented
He said his boys are looking forward to competing again next year and hope to progress beyond the semi-finals This is the club’s third year, but the exposure gave the players an extra boost
“They are definitely coming back stronger next year, ” said Newman
The finals at the Athlone Stadium will start at 10:00 with the main final between Antaliaspor and Cape Town Spurs at 19:00
“The public can look forward to a whole day of soccer and with Cape Town Spurs contesting the final, a repeat of last year against a new
opponent, in which we can expect fireworks,” said Rodriguez “We are going to have a great day of football and show where football started in the Western Cape, Athlone Stadium, the home of football I am looking forward to seeing a lot of new football stars from the Western Cape being born and emerging at the finals The great football stars of the future will be in action, so I am inviting all football lovers to come and support the finals ” Entry fee is R50 and tickets are available at the Mitchells Plain LFA office or from Rodriques on 071 197 0185 for all ticket enquiries
