In a series of tweets on Saturday, Western Cape premier Helen Zille came out swinging against the ANC government and those who pick them at the polls, saying it may be time for taxpayers to withhold their payments.

The about 5 million people, or less than 10% of the population, who pay personal income tax have not been getting value for money, she has suggested, because the “ANC elite” are “stealing taxes meant to support the poor”.

“When elections come, the ANC calls us ‘racist’ so that black people, the majority desperately poor, vote for them again,” she wrote.

This is the core statistic to digest if you want to understand SA. And why it is so critical that we stop the ANC elite stealing taxes meant to support the poor. When elections come, the ANC calls us "racist" so that black ppl, the majority desperately poor, vote for them again. https://t.co/QumV7olG62 — Helen Zille (@helenzille) January 26, 2019

She said anyone voting for the ANC would, however, be complicit in corruption once again.

Anybody who votes ANC, or who promotes a vote for the ANC, even under Cyril, is an accomplice to corruption. It is as simple as that. https://t.co/QumV7olG62 — Helen Zille (@helenzille) January 26, 2019

She vowed to organise a tax revolt if not enough people were prosecuted and jailed following a slew of revelations about corruption at the state capture commission of inquiry.

I'm waiting to see how many ppl get prosecuted and land in jail in a reasonable amount of time after the Zondo commission. If they do not, just watch me. I will be organising the #TaxRevolt. I have tried the electoral route for years. Voters seem to like voting for corruption. https://t.co/WNvDpPKND1 — Helen Zille (@helenzille) January 26, 2019

“As I see it, this election is the last chance the voters have to vote against corruption. And it is clear – a vote for the ANC (even under Cyril) is a vote FOR corruption. If the voters fail the democracy test again, its time for additional methods. # TaxRevolt,” she wrote.

Her comments elicited a range of reactions on Saturday morning, with many criticising the idea of a tax revolt as both anti-democratic and impractical.

However, it also stirred up enthusiasm and support for the idea.

#TaxRevolt hits the poor most, the rich and government officials have lots of options for services that will be deprived, but the poor wont have that luxury — Sagwadi Maluleke (@masagwadi) January 26, 2019

Yes @helenzille we all know that.

Now let's hear if there is any reason to vote for YOUR party.

Because frankly, when korrupte gevaar is the only message we have spamming our phones and emails, we are not inspired. — Mark Corke???? (@MarkCorke) January 26, 2019

By calling for a tax revolt you and @Our_DA are the ones who have failed the democracy test, not the voters. Anyway wonder why your party heavyweights like @MmusiMaimane and @HermanMashaba are so quiet on your call? Do they agree with you? — ???? ???????????? (@AIC100) January 26, 2019

Democracy is not democracy unless it I get my way… says baby Zille. Much like her lackey Maimane referring to a referendum that didn't produce results he wanted a failure of democracy. In reality what u guys want is Autocracy. — DKH (@africanbison) January 26, 2019

Your imagination is running wild there. This is simple. You either wants democracy or you don't. You cannot not only be democratic when it suits you. That is the very antithesis of democracy. By the way.. point me to a time when SA wad not corrupt please. — DKH (@africanbison) January 26, 2019

Firmly behind you on this. Enough is enough! — Sanjay Maharaj (@sanj_zn) January 26, 2019

I do not agree with you on every topic. But Tannie Helen this one I agree with. — Herman J Roos (@HermanJRoos) January 26, 2019

Well the country will implode long before the second coming thanks to people like you. — Helen Zille (@helenzille) January 26, 2019

(Compiled by Charles Cilliers)

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