South Africans earning R30,000 a month pay the same ‘tax’ rate as those earning over R432,000 living in a top European country

• South Africans earning R30,000 a month pay the same ‘tax’ rate as those earning over R432,000 living in a top European country
• South Africa's standard VAT rate is 15%, although some goods and services are zero-rated or exempt, and expenses such as private schooling, medical aid and security can effectively become another layer of tax
• Many South Africans feel significantly poorer than their payslips suggest, as they are left with R15,454.21 from their R30,000 monthly income after combining PAYE with taxes and expenses