Ubuntu (humanity) and umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu (a person is a person because of others), forms the very essence of African culture. In some cultures in the olden days, the first earnings that young professionals received was given to an uncle, as a thank you gesture for assisting in the upbringing or for further blessings. ‘A hand that gives shall receive more,’ so the saying goes. We have seen on social media, celebrities buying houses and cars for their parents; Hash tag, Thank you Mamma I Made It, but could custom be used as a tool of financial abuse and to extort money from bread winners?
The notion is baffling, let us start by defining what the term denotes. There are two schools of thought on the meaning of black tax which is also referred to as family/ubuntu tax. One has to do with the responsibility placed predominantly on the black working class where they are faced with the obligation or responsibility to provide for close and extended family members. The second has to do with an abysmal societal issue of discrimination and the continued inequality against blacks as a result of the apartheid regime, or could the latter denote white privilege?
Black tax is quite common in previously disadvantaged groups. The inequalities of the past caused poor quality education and made it very difficult for upward social mobility for most black Africans. According to Stats SA, 6.2 million people between the ages of 16 to 64 are unemployed, at this rate it is inevitable that the working class will support their immediate family.
Katleho Mokoena (Financial Advisor) says that Black tax is not a burden but rather a responsibility, especially in the black community, “I wasn’t really affected by black tax but I feel that it is vital for African families to help one another because of our colonial and apartheid history. In helping others, you help yourself”. If you can afford to fund your siblings to further their education then one should do so, this will in turn help in having more than one person earning a salary in the family.
Boitumelo Dithebe (Branch Manager) like Katleho, states that the term ‘’black tax” has a negative connotation to it and it should not be like that as black tax is not just a black phenomenon, it happens across all races. “Helping your extended family is a necessity mainly due to the fact that we do not have generational wealth. We need to take care of our own, that is the only way we can grow as an African nation. For me, it is the responsible thing to do and it must not be seen as a burden,” emphasising that, “we should not be fooled by these new terms that are intended to influence black people negatively, and turn a good deed into something sinister”.
On the other hand, a female auditor, who prefers to remain anonymous says that, her family expects more than she can afford. “I feel like I am being exploited because I pay for everything at home, from groceries, electricity, rent plus I have to cough up money to support my little sister’s two kids. Sometimes I feel so depressed but I feel obligated to support,” she tells Solomon Star.
Winnie Kunene, Financial Psychologist, during her interview with SABC News also agrees that black tax should not be seen as a burden but rather a responsibility. She states that what working professionals ought to do is to have money conferences, where they disclose to their families how much they earn and their monthly budget, thus eliminating the high expectations of families on bread winners.
Twitter also had conflicting views in the topic, this what they had to say:
#IRealisedLifeWasHardWhen getting a job didn’t fix my life as I had always dreamed it would. The problems in my life just multiplied. #blacktax
@Evananonymous1
The so called #blacktax has resulted in so many young alcoholics. I pray that we plan better financially so as to ease up the burden on our children in the future, it’s really sad.
@ngcinggwanab
I have been watching the debate on black tax. The concept of black tax does not exist in my world. It is a responsibility of both the past and future.
@chiefNtshingila
The perception is twofold, it seems that some people are proud to support their families, others feel that they do not have financial freedom and that they are drowning in debt, depression and are thus unable to create wealth. An issue that should nonetheless be addressed.
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