Black Tax is a topic which is no longer swept under the carpet, and it is a reality many cannot escape from. Media personality Nomzamo Mbatha says that black tax has had a relative impact on her personally.
Nomzamo Mbatha has partnered with Capitec Bank to not only share some of her experience with Black Tax but to offer some sage advice on how other young professionals can prepare ahead of time for the family obligations they might face.
“In the past, I’d end up buying all kinds of things for my 13 nieces and nephews, along with toys, school uniforms and stationery – at times, to ease the load on my siblings, I’d even pay school fees. But I’ve learned from experience that if my well runs dry, I can’t care for myself, let alone anyone else. So I’ve cut my spending and I’ve started holding my family accountable,” she says.
She says she now manages her extended family’s expectations by saying no, “Foremost I think it is such a great privilege to be in a position to be able to help others, especially my family. But I’ve had to learn that at times its best to say no – which in most black families we’re taught not to say. There’s a difference between needs and wants and I’ve learned to prioritise the things my family really needs. I try and assist in little ways, but I’ve realised that by not capping the black tax, there’s a risk that some of my family may become fully dependent on me. That doesn’t empower them; it incapacitates them from ever achieving financial freedom and self-sufficiency. I prefer to empower my family by paying them to do real jobs for me or by sponsoring their educational pursuits,” she explains.
