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=Black Tax=

Black Tax
Tax are compulsory contribution to state revenue payed by the people, charged by the government on workers income and business profits, or added to the cost of some goods, services, and transactions. Black Tax is defined as the way in which blacks have to work twice as hard to get what they want, other definition is illegal activities carried out in exchange of illegal goods for cash. In South Africa Black Tax make reference to the responsibility employed blacks have towards helping their families especially parents and extended families. These responsibilities includes building a house for parents, putting food on the table for more than one household, educating siblings, nephews and nieces, and may go as far as paying family debts, all while you still paying back your student loans. This affect the person helping, as they are unable to focus on their future and most feel obliged to assist at home since the parents sacrificed for them in one way or the other.

History
According to Sifiso Mkhonto, (2018) Black tax is a system of the apartheid which was brought into our democracy intentionally. The special treatment given to white people directly deprived black people of the opportunity to build generational wealth. With no equal rights for black and white South Africans at that time, white South Africans were able to enter democracy with proceeds of their wealth to give to their children, while black South Africans were allowed to enter the new beginning with no financial startup. "The apartheid system negatively affected this social status, since it caused broken family structures poor quality education, and highly unequal society which made it almost impossible fro majority of black South Africans to archive upward social mobility as defined by Sullenberger et. al, (8;2005)." according to Nonhlanhla (2016). An African proverb says, Izandla ziyagezana (one hand washes the other). This is the philosophy behind black tax.

Effects
Most young black people are stuck in what has become a vicious cycle of poverty in South Africa. A cycle that has been created by past situations preventing blacks from acquiring Generational wealth. According to research by the Old Mutual Savings & Investment Monitor, Black Tax is one of the biggest causes of financial distress among South Africa’s middle-class population. However, who do we blame for the transfer of family responsibility to young people? The parents? The apartheid system? Can we really call taking care of your loved ones “taxing”?

Below are some off the effects that arise from Black Tax:

Guilt factor of taking care of home
This affect the person helping, as they are unable to focus on their future and most feel obliged to assist at home since the parents sacrificed for them in one way or the other hence they feel the need to be “paid back”. Some young people are subjected to black tax as a result of broken homes, due to divorce, or the passing of parents. There are students who use their bursary/ loan money to support their families. “Yes, some days it’s a bit overwhelming. But I told myself from an early age that given all the opportunities presented to me, which neither of my parents had, I’d make different choices to give all of us a better life” said Ivy during an interview with a reporter from JustMoney.co.za

Financial strain
There are cases where you find the whole family dependent on one pay cheque, which then put financial strain on the “breadwinner”. You find young professionals often remain in the same financial position drowning in debts, due to either student loans, credit cards and or family debts. For example, a family that has poor spending habits and fail to prioritise (people who like flashy materialistic things that cost above what they can afford) might end up putting the breadwinner in debts.

Risk of being used and abused.
There are family members that can be inconsiderate and demanding. Families that will make you feel like you owe them just because you got a chance to go to university and get education and now you have a job. Some family members will make maintain their habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking and lavish lifestyle and if you object, you are made to feel selfish. Some parents go as far as making major financial commitments such as taking furniture on credit, taking money from loan sharks with the hope that you will pay.

Resentment
The amount of attention you may give to your family’s needs is the same amount of attention they too, give to your salary at the end of every month. They start having an opinion and controlling your spending. To some this results to resentment towards the parents and family at large due to the verbal and emotional abuse they endure. A reader wrote “Sadly, ‘Family tax’, and my inability to speak up for myself when times were tough for me eventually (financially), paid a huge part in me bearing resentment and loathing towards my extended family (whom I grew up with). So much so, that there came a point where I literally had to choose between ending my life and walking away” Vee (2016). Black tax is a setback to some breadwinners as they fail to save or invest as because they live from pay check to pay check. Others fail to live the life they had imagined for themselves (such as travelling, buying car or house) and end up resenting their siblings thinking, “They have it easy”. Some people go as far as sacrificing/ compromising on their children life such as putting your child in a private school just because they can’t afford to put the other family kids (nieces and nephews) in the same school.

Dealing with Black Tax
Dealing with Black Tax is not easy as special when you are already deep in it but you can always try and manages it so that it doesn't become a burden to you life. People should learn to be transparent and share their vision and plans with those they support; be able to say no without fear if cant afford. "I believe the following are factors in holding the view that, as young professionals, our general contributions to black tax are a burden. We have shifted responsibility into a burden, failed to set and implement financial boundaries, believe materialism is the report card of success and find it unwise to communicate about our finances with our parents or guardians, as we believe that they are financially illiterate. Yet setting the tone with them on how you are going to spend your finances with them reduces expectations, and limits unnecessary pressure" according to Sifiso Mkhonto, (2018). "Mokonyane says people need to take their personal needs into account before contributing towards Black Tax".

"It begins with thinking of my family first. If I’m doing a project and need an extra pair of hands, I don’t hire a stranger. Rather, I employ that cousin or family member who is sitting at home and needs the extra income. In this way they earn money through legitimate work and learn a skill in the process. It stops a dependency cycle from developing. When it comes to lending money, I’ve also learnt to give family members only what I’m prepared to lose. They may ask to borrow R5000, but I’ll give them just R1500 because chances are good that the money is not coming back."

Conclusion
As blacks people we have to take care of our families also look at the future and be responsible, because if nothing is done about ensuring the same process doesn't repeat it self, our children will face same struggle for generations and generations to come. However, new ways  must be explored to equip each siblings and promote financial independence in order to break the vicious cycle of poverty and Black Tax.