🇿🇦 Street Debate: Black Tax in South Africa | American Couple Reacts to South African Culture

[@abster4709]

I remember my parents sitting me down when I got my first job and letting me know that I am not obligated to contribute in the house but I have to make sure I save and use my money wisely. This talk made me want to contribute even more. I have so many friends who's parents believe they have a right to their kids money, even after they get married. This is very prevalent in the coloured community as well.

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

Love this for you & your family!

[@bmlovely5334]

Black tax is usually not only for your parents. It at times extends to siblings and their children and all the way to uncles and aunts. Sometimes, you are not the "first generation" to succeed but the responsible child, and you will be expected to carry your parents and irresponsible siblings and your nieces and nephews. It's quite sad because sometimes, when you put your foot down, there will be emotionally manipulating statements like " the little kids did nothing wrong, your siblings' children are like your own children." I think that the only thing that will save you from black tax is putting firm boundaries, help out if you can. Otherwise - a firm "No" will save you from possible debt and depression

[@KediKtv]

Me I don't play games others comes after... I only help were can

[@phumzazozi6934]

Some parents don't ask but you as the their child can see that they are struggling a bit, there's no groceries at home, maybe they can't even buy electricity then you see that you must step in. Especially knowing what they had to sacrifice to make sure you got educated. Personally I think it become "Tax" when you have to fund their unhealthy habits, like maybe pay off their shopping depts, buy alcohol etc or help your siblings who do not want to get jobs but have kids of their own.

[@elizabethletsoso2558]

Well spoken ❤

[@Jay-gq1mo]

Helping out is great but I don't want to be "expected" to help

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

It’s definitely understandable in that case.

[@fortunetshabalala534]

My uncle was the first graduate in our family and he helped pay for my varsity fees and now that I am working, there's no way I'm gonna be all about me. UBUNTU is a cultural concept that means: "I am, because we are." So, there's no way I can just be about me, until/unless I can assist someone from home who will then have to help someone else.

[@poetic7304]

I love you guys, and thank you for exploring this topic ❤️

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

Much love!

[@thembekadorcaskhumalo866]

Black Tax is a major hindrance for growth for first generation employed citizens in SA.

[@ronanpatterson2465]

This topic is hitting every nerve in my body. As South Africans, it's so difficult being part of the first in your family to succeed or have a proper education.

[@African_Mermaid]

@24:20.. This is so true, you put it beautifully.. it’s not easy to unlearn stuff you’ve learned since childhood. I also find it hard to do sometimes, it’s like I’m scared of the outcome.

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

Sometimes you just have to take the risk of whatever the outcome will be. You won’t know unless you try.

[@AndiswaDoyi-i4p]

South Africans do get government assistance for example,the government housing we call it RDP,free healthcare,and financial assistance but then that might not be enough for some households,I'm not in that situation cause I'm the only child and my Mom build herself a home,but some families take the "black tax" too far.

[@ChaenaChaena]

This Americans what is their real purpose exposing South African living to the rest of the world...what are they hoping to achieve here,as a South African I've got to ask this question not to just laugh and smile without understanding the purpose of all of this.

[@godsbabeborn-again5945]

Interesting topic that definitely touched a nerve. We come from different families. Some are entitled, some are understanding. I personally come from a very poor family and I'm the 1st person to graduate. I have unemployed siblings and of my unemployed siblings, my sis also lives at home with her 2 kids. So my parents do get pension money from the government but they have many mouths to feed. My employed siblings (brothers) are living their lives and are not paying black tax. I'm a girl child and as a responsible person who can't just stand and watch my parents without food while I'm "living the life", I also feel the need to make a difference at home by renovating my parent's house, making sure they have groceries, etc. I luckily have parents who want nothing from me so whatever I do for them is out of the goodness of my heart. My parents only want what's best for me. They want to see me succeeding in life, saving money, and just living a comfortable life. But again I can't turn my back on them. It's out of empathy that I willingly help out at home with groceries and with whatever else I can help with. It halts my progress in life but it won't ever sit well with me knowing my family is struggling while I'm worry-free. I don't have kids and don't want any because growing up poor created trauma. I'd rather struggle alone on earth instead of bringing another human being into it too. That's how I'm deciding to break the cycle. Growing up poor and trying to remedy the situation as a child when you're working is what leads to black tax. I think with us, things are getting much better because the kids of our generation grow up in homes where parents are not as poor so the kids may not have to pay black tax. So, I think the future is looking bright.

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

Thank you for sharing your experience. You are blessed! Thanks for touching on the point about breaking the cycle.

[@neomontja71]

Black tax is not even an expectation , it is an entitlement that black parents have towards their kids. It's like some parents will work hard to put you in school with an expectation that you will pay for your siblings fees , build them a new house ,renovate an old house or the household will depend on you for feeding. It sometimes becomes an emotional blackmail and can indeed be depressing . You will support the family and before you know it you are at your 40s and you have nothing because you have been supporting your family your whole life. Telling our parents of how much we earn it's not a good idea. Whenever they ask you something and you say you do not have money you will be asked what do you do with your money because you earn a lot. Parents think 20K is a lot of money.

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

Whoa. This is just hard. I can see how families could get torn over this. This was definitely an eye-opener.

[@simangelekhumalo6120]

I had to build a house at my grandmother but I've always wanted to do that, but you are also required to contribute every month to your siblings etc for groceries too. You do this even if you don't live at home, and it extends even after you have kids.

[@senzomemela1311]

This topic of black tax, is a foreign concept to African families, helping your family members with money is not tax....To real Africans it is a blessing and honour to help people, not tax....

[@dintle_kubheka]

14:14 we do have social programs for children under 18, elders over 60 and unemployed people(this came into effect during Covid)who are over 18. You asked if they still require the money when someone starts a family😂 it's so bad for men because they'll say his wife is keeping the money from them and start resenting the wife

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

That’s a good start and we hope it gets even better. The wife will have to just take the blame for the sake of peace😅

[@Camagwinee]

Growing up, our parents experienced some type of black tax themselves. When a family member passed away, they were expected to pay for all the funeral expenses. That meant that we'd not have Christmas or winter clothes during or the end of the year unfortunately🙃. I remember my uncle said (many years ago) that he can't wait to have children so the family can leave him alone😬

[@BrimanTV]

Please react to The Big Debate, they have interesting topics about social issues in SA. The videos are old but still relevant. But it's where you get views from different races and age groups in SA.

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

We did before. We’ll check more out soon. kzbin.info/www/bejne/paTWZalreb6smJosi=EHxzs4ytUH5rB2DH

[@BrimanTV]

@TheDemouchetsREACT what's funny is I even left a comment on that episode you shared 😂 I totally forgot about that. Please do react on other videos.

[@LoyisoVabaza-wu3fq]

I think it's a blessing because you will be blessed by God

[@ronaldwiley8357]

It is a blessing until the beneficiaries start abusing it.

[@Shadow_Blazer]

All black people from all walks of life have experienced black tax

[@cosmic_sunflower3864]

Families are broken because we're missing the value of sacrifice for the better of the entire family. Every race of people understands the importance of investing back into your family. Making sure your family has a home, assets, and access to cash so every child has what they need. Why are we burdened by this? Someone has to wear overalls so the next generation can wear a suit. ❤

[@bafongalo8156]

South Africans recieves all sorts of goverment assistance. A little bit too much if you ask me. There is the Old Age pension, disability grant, child support grant, child foster care grant, and SRD grant for unemployed . Government spends close to R260 Billion in Social grants which is about $14 billion. For a snall econony that is a lot and is 3,6% of the budget. I have not included the amount used to support student at tertiary institutions for tuition, food and accomodation called National Student Fund of South Africa.

[@johncollen7814]

Hi, look south africa does have social grants, unemployment grants, disability grants, pensions and all other types of support, but it is not enough to let someone survive on his or her own. Pensions are only good if you had a certain job where you contune with your normal salary.

[@thabisapenze7085]

There is no way I'm gonna let my parents suffer when I'm in the position to help.

[@MzamoMehlomakhulu]

The economic situation in Africa is different and our culture demands that we start home before any thing else grandparents are ones who get our money first

[@Jay-gq1mo]

I'd say Black Tax is the expectation to look after your family. Black parents love hold them raising us over our heads when the truth is of the matter the kid didn't ask to be born. It's the parents' responsibility to raise a child to the best of their abilities and the kid should be the one who chooses whether or not they want to give and that choice should not be held against them. For me it's about choice, I want to choose to help but I don't want to be expected to help especially if the reason is me paying back for my parents doing their jobs as parents

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

Thanks for sharing your perspective!

[@shakampetshwa9704]

trust me even when you are married, the cousins, cousins' kids become your resposibility they start acting like spoilt brats feeling priviladged on your money.

[@BongyM-1]

I’m currently facing the same problem, I have to build two separate households, I have to build a house for my Grandmother because she raised me, and I have to build a house for my mother who made sure I had clothes and food growing up and she took me to varsity, paid for my fees when my bursary was late. I can’t afford neither 😭 I see people I went to University with buying cars and houses for themselves progressing in life while I am still expected to start with other people’s houses before mine. I don’t know what to do, don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t mind building one house but two? Yoh!

[@renemasisi2292]

I understand the blessings that come with giving but what I learned and told mom is that i can only go this far and that’s all i can. She was trying to fight me first but I explained to her my needs and she understood. I think people should sit with their parents tell them their needs if they don’t understand is their own problem. At the end of the day every relationship requires understanding

[@somaphungarsa]

1st Timothy chapter 5 verse 8, if anyone fails to provide for his relatives especially for those his of his own family he has disowned the faith, Amen. This applies to those who are salvated in CHRIST JESUS the Lord, Amen Bazalwane.

[@math97003]

Black tax is for people whos parents and family don't have their own money.If your parents and family are doing well then they won't ask you for money

[@Shadow_Blazer]

Was saving money to buy a car and my parents called to ask for money to fix the fridge at home cause it no longer works and it was the only money I was able to save in a long time

[@PROBLEMchildTANENDLAYINI]

Answering from 12:30 to 13:50 we do have senior care, funds that are received each moth from the government given to the elders who are old unable to work,young and old who are able to work but unemployed,the disabled and all children from unemployed and low earning family's.children from one month till the age of 18 get social grant from (South African Social Security Agency) SASSA. Black tax affects all wether you have good or bad job you went to university, collage or not once you get a job your done black tax is on you.

[@yolandaninise3472]

Mostly it's a matter of knowing if you don't send money,where will they get basics from because you are the only source.

[@Ntuthu-ZA]

We are Africans. We take care of our elders. Many of us had no houses or lived in really bad hosing and we first helped our parents by pimping the house first, before doing things for ourselves hiw could I live facy when my parents are struggling and live in a shack? Imagine if our parents sent us to bad schools and instead saved their money for their old age, and we ended up working as cashiers or saddled with huge student debts like Americans. It never killed us. Our kids who went to yte schools learned bad things from those people.

[@khoi-sonzentertainment447]

As much as I am very open minded, aware of many factors on this Black Tax issue, but I think in most cases we are misusing this alien term when it comes to our African philosophy by labeling Ubuntu as Black Tax; (Ubuntu means humanity - I am because you are, you are because we are.) So basically one can't just be at ease when he knows the situation back at home. As soon I get that bread, in mind because of one's upbringing I know that I have to break bread with my people. If it's being demanded then I think it can be labelled as Black Tax.

[@Tripleexel]

If everyone who gets some wings has to clip off their feathers to uplift others who gets to be allowed to fly away?

[@EnochlungeloNgcobo]

You don't feed your parents you are not there parents you are the child

[@BongieBala]

I am surprised to discover that some South Africans refer to financially supporting their own families as "black tax". It seems that the influence of Western culture has had a negative impact on South Africans. I have two sisters and a brother and growing up, our father provided for us while our mother was a stay-at-home mom and took care of the household. When my brother and I got our first jobs in high school, we followed our father's example and brought food home to support our family. We took pride in doing so and did not view it as a burden. Even when my brother was looking for a job after graduating, I helped him with money from my weekend job. We have always supported each other, and now we are even raising our nephew together. In our family, taking care of one another is a way of life. After all, if you don't help your family, how can you expect them to support you?

[@ZanoMashele804]

Ay this topic pains me. When do I get to invest in my own life when I'm obligated to take care of my family. When do I start my own family 😢

[@chimakalu41]

25:26 there's that.

[@abrahampoeng8386]

In a nutshell black tax is just a psychological manipulation from the older generation to kind of leverage over what might have been their failures, coz they do have welfare and social grants even though it is not enough, due to socioeconomic standards in South Africa against first world countries. I feel like an element of greed and entitlement is the driving force towards us as millennials to have such guilt between giving back being strained along

[@Official-EuniceUg]

I dont like when even relatives and distant ones that have not contributed anything to my growing up expect me to solve their financial problems and if i dont, i will be talked about as someone that forgot where they come from, though i think i should give back willingly. Black tax should end.

[@MatNch]

As for me, I will not be asking my child to fund my needs. I must make sure that I build something that will sustain me in my old age so that my babies cn flourish with their money. We might not be able to change our parents mindsets, but we can manage our own and break that cycle. Amen.

[@meteorhail5021]

I've been paying black tax for 24 years, and I'm 42 today - I can't buy a house, can't even save for lobola and 10s of other costly Zulu ceremonies that come with getting married.

[@Mthembu21]

React to Yoh ! Christmas SA movie Series

[@nompumelelondlovu8994]

Has anybody mentioned that you need to build them a home first and furnish and your mama can brag to other moms about what their child has done for them. Moms compete about their children. If you don’t do it yul be a bad child if your home is not in the level and you are living good.

[@Tripleexel]

Black tax. People seem to think you can uplift the whole family on one salary. The reality is black tax only works at an individual level. At a comunity level its fosters a culture of dependency & entitlement.

[@vuyorwexana8555]

You know what I did I immediately when I had money I bought apartment flats so that my mom is sorted she gets R80.000 a month now no need to work

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

Love this!

[@PROBLEMchildTANENDLAYINI]

oh and yes black tax is not a South African thing only the wole Afrika is affected by this even all black people around the globe we are on this together like it or not. 😁😁😂😂😂

[@lufunorembuluwani8556]

Black tax avoidance is needed

[@zanelemtetwa5448]

For me there was a point where I had to sit my mother down tell look I love you I will help where I can but iam trying to put my life in order so iam going to send them set amount monthly nothing more, she understood did pressure me to send more and was able to by house & car and I was still able to contribute a little at home . I think people need to set boundaries with you loved ones or they will demand more than you can gave.

[@Jay-gq1mo]

Some are raised by close minded traditionalists and some are raised by narcissists. Not all parents are understanding

[@TheDemouchetsREACT]

We love that this worked out for you! Keep soaring!

[@azalianieuwenhuys8844]

We suffer from survivors remorse...you are the only one that made it out...every one else is still surviving living off little to nothing. The expectation is what kills us. South Africa is a welfare state...more than a third of our population receives money from the State . Things are bad...and the few that make it,spend their lives working for free basically...because your money is not yours to use and enjoy. Its your family's.

[@BrendonHendicks]

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