In just one week, the FairPlay campaign to make chicken VAT-free captured national attention and sparked a powerful public response as Treasury prepares for the upcoming Budget.
South Africans responded strongly to the public call for submissions to National Treasury on what should be included in the next fiscal year’s budget, particularly the demand to drop VAT on chicken, the most consumed affordable protein for low-income households.
In a few short days, FairPlay’s messaging reached over 800 000 people on X and Facebook, of which close to 7 000 clicked through to our website to learn more about the campaign. Hundreds followed through to make official submissions to treasury in support of VAT-free chicken. To all those who participated, we say thank you!
Media outlets across the country also covered the issue, amplifying the case that zero-rating chicken would ease food cost burdens and improve nutrition, with articles discussing the measure’s strong backing from industry and civil society.
The campaign cut through national news, with coverage in mainstream business press, the agricultural press and interviews on radio, underscoring that the public is concerned about hunger, rising food insecurity and the fairness of taxing staple foods.
As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to deliver the budget speech later this month, the scale of engagement suggests that support for VAT-free chicken has become a visible part of the national conversation, and a pressure point FairPlay hopes will translate into concrete policy action when budget decisions are announced.
