ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
GRADE 8 ASSIGNMENT: DATA RESPONSE
2023 TERM 1
MARKS:
50
SCHOOL: ______________________________________
LEARNER: _____________________________________
DECLARATION BY LEARNER:
I HEREBY CONFIRM THAT ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS
MY ORIGINAL WORK.
______________________
SIGNED
______________
DATE
EXAMINER:__________________________________
MODERATOR:________________________________
TOPIC:
THE GOVERNMENT
Read the following news item and answer the questions that follow:
GOVERNMENT GETS SMALL-SCALE SUGARCANE FARMERS MOVING
The government has donated a rail loading facility which is set to benefit small scale sugarcane
farmers in Umkhanyakude District.
Nearly 2 000 small-scale sugarcane farmers who could no longer afford to transport their crop
by road, are set to boom, thanks to a rail loading facility donated to them by government.
Small-scale sugarcane growers in Umkhanyakude District in the north of KwaZulu-Natal have
welcomed the opening of a R38 million rail siding trans-loading facility that will significantly
cut their transport costs.
Over 1 900 small-scale sugarcane farmers who are part of the Makhathini irrigation scheme will
save R6.8 million per year because they no longer must use trucks to transport their sugarcane.
They produce around 117 000 tons a year.
With the rising cost of fuel, the recent handover by the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform
and Rural Development, Thoko Didiza, could not have come at a better time.
Farmers were paying R170 per ton to transport their sugarcane to the Felixton mill – nearly
120km away, with Tongaat Hulett covering the balance of the cost. This will now drop to R112
per ton, says Madlala.
Another benefit of switching to rail, to transport the crops, is that they will be protected from
the sun and rain. Weather damage has in the past caused the farmers to get less money for their
sugarcane. The Mkhuze siding machine will help transport three times more per load than the
trucks could.
During the handover, Minister Didiza said that 25 people have already been hired as controllers,
operators, road weighbridge clerks, cleaners, rail tractor operators, secu rity, and site
supervisors.
“The infrastructure will reduce production costs while reducing highway congestion by
transporting tons of cane through cargo trains. Young people have opportunities,” she said,
telling the story of a young man in the control room who studied computer technology, which
he can now use in the agricultural industry.
Didiza also handed over heavy-duty machines, farming implements and other products valued
at R10 million to growers.
By GCIS Vuk’uzenzele 06-07-2022 09:31 https://bit.ly/3VtzNKz
2
QUESTION 1
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
Which level of government runs a district?
(1)
How is Umkhanyakude district municipality different to eThekwini (Durban) municipality?
(2)
Explain the term infrastructure.
(2)
How much money will the Makhathini irrigation scheme save when rail transport is used?
(1)
Which level of government does Thoko Didiza belong to, and which branch does she belong
to?
(2)
Name the other TWO branches at this level of government.
(2)
According to the circular flow of income and spending diagram, from which of the three
sectors do labourers come from?
(2)
Draw up a table as shown, but do not write the information next to the numbers. Only write
the number in the first column. Place a tick in the correct box to indicate your choice. The
first point has been completed already:
(7)
Flow of income
Households Businesses Government
1 Receives taxes from the other
participants
Financial
Institutions

2 Pays company tax
3 Earns wages from the other
participants
4 Makes loans to households and
businesses
5 Sells goods and services to the
other participants
6 Provides labour to the
government and businesses
7 Pays personal income tax
8 Provides goods and services
such as fixing potholes
1.9
1.10
Which branch of national government is responsible for making the laws of the country? (1)
Draw a diagram to show how Umkhanyakude (Government) and households are both
producers and consumers.
(5)[25]
3
TOPIC:
THE NATIONAL BUDGET
Read the following sources of information and respond to the questions that follow:
Study the information and answer the questions.
Budget 2022 in a nutshell - Everything you need to know
South Africa’s government finances are turning the tide, the Finance Minister said on Wednesday.
Still, he warned that government debt was dangerous: it has reached R4.3 trillion and is projected to
rise to R5.4 trillion over the medium term. On average, 20 cents of every rand collected in
government revenue is now being spent on debt repayments, which is crowding out spending on
health and basic education.
But the good news was that tax revenue collected for the past year was R182 billion more than
budgeted, thanks in part to stronger-than-expected personal income tax collections and VAT - but
mostly due to mining companies that benefitted from a boom in commodity prices.
Tax reprieve
This year’s budget brought some welcome news, with the corporate income tax cut from 28% to
27%. Personal income tax brackets have also been adjusted to bring relief.
For the first time since 1990, there will be no hike in the fuel or Road Accident Fund levy.
Hikes in excise duties on alcohol and tobacco were kept in line with inflation (between 4.5% and
6.5%) – from above 8% last year.
After collecting R1.55 trillion in tax last year, South Africa’s tax-to-GDP rate of 24.7 per cent
exceeds previous highs reached in 2007/08 and 2019/20.
Social grants
Monthly social grants have been hiked by between 1.9%, for foster care grants, and 5% for old age,
care dependency and disability.
QUESTION 2
2.1
Who is the Minister of Finance?
(1)
2.2
What percentage of the Government’s income is being spent on debt?
(2)
2.3
Which two services that the Government supplies are negatively influenced by the debt? (2)
2.4
Name two direct taxes mentioned in the text.
(2)
2.5
From which indirect tax does the Government receive the most income – write the
name out in full.
(2)
2.6
How/when do consumers pay the fuel levy and the road accident fund?
(1)
2.7
Explain what ‘inflation’ is.
(2)
4
2.8
Give another common name for excise duties on alcohol and tobacco and explain why it
is called this.
(2)
2.9
Explain what social grants are and provide an example.
2.10
Name any three services that the Government is able to supply through the tax that they
receive.
(3)
2.11
How much tax do businesses pay according to the text?
2.12
Explain what VAT is and list two items that are VAT free.
TOTAL:
5
50
(3)
(1)
(4) [25]
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11
2.12
Higher Order
CREATING
EVALUATING
APPLYING
ANALYSING
Middle order
UNDERSTANDING
Lower order
REMEMBERING
QUESTION
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
7
1
5
1
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
3
3
1
4
Departmental
Requirement
40%
40%
20%
ACTUAL %
38%
44%
18%
6
ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
GRADE 8 ASSIGNMENT: DATA RESPONSE
2023 TERM 1
MARKS:
7
50
Grade 8 EMS data response – Term 1 - MEMORANDUM
QUESTION 1
1.1
Which level of government runs a district?
(1)
Local
1.2
How is Umkhanyakude district municipality different to eThekwini municipality?
(2)
eThekwini is a Metropolitan city.  It does not have local municipalities like
Umkhanyakude. 
1.3
Explain the term infrastructure.
(2)
Infrastructure is composed of physical structures such as roads, railways, bridges, tunnels,
water supply, sewers, electrical grids, and telecommunications.  (any e.g.’s)
1.4
How much money will the Makhathini irrigation scheme save when rail transport is
used?
(1)
R6,8 million
1.5
Which level of government does Thoko Didiza belong to, and, which branch does she
belong to?
(2)
National Cabinet/Executive 
1.6
Name the other TWO branches at this level of government.
(2)
Parliament and Judiciary
1.7
According to the circular flow of income and spending diagram, from which of the three
sectors do labourers come from?
(2)
Households
8
1.8
Draw up a table as shown, but only write the number in the first column. Place a tick in the
correct box to indicate your choice. The first point has been completed already:
(7)
Flow of income
Households Businesses Government
1 Receives taxes from the other
participants


2 Pays company tax
3 Earns wages from the other
participants
4 Makes loans to households and
businesses
5 Sells goods and services to the
other participants
6 Provides labour to the
government and businesses

7 Pays personal income tax

8 Provides goods and services
such as fixing potholes
2.
Businesses
3.
Households
4.
Financial institutions
5.
Businesses
6.
Households
7.
Households
8.
Government
1.9
Financial
Institutions




For easy marking
Which branch of national government is responsible for making the laws of the
country?
(1)
Parliament. 
1.10
Draw a diagram to show how Umkhanyakude (Government) and households are
both producers and consumers.
(5)[25]
Public
goods/services
 Labels and
arrows MD
Factors of production
9
[25]
QUESTION 2
2.1
Who is the minister of Finance?
Enoch Godongwana 
(1)
2.2
What percentage of the Government’s income is being spent on debt?
(3)
20%
2.3
Which two services that the Government supplies are negatively influenced by the
debt?
(2)
Health and basic education MD
2.4
Name two direct taxes mentioned in the text.
(2)
Direct - Personal Income tax /Corporate tax
2.5
From which indirect tax does the Government receive the most income – write the
name out in full.
(2)
VAT
2.6
How/when do consumers pay the fuel levy and the road accident fund?
(1)
When they pay for petrol MD
2.7
Explain what ‘inflation’ is.
(2)
A general increase in the prices of goods and services.
2.8
Give another common name for excise duties on alcohol and tobacco and explain why it
is called this.
(2)
Sin taxes. It is considered to be unhealthy products.  MD
2.9
Explain what social grants are and provide an example.
(3)
Money which is given to poor people to help them survive. EG Pension; 
foster care etc. MD
2.10
Name any three services that the Government is able to supply through the tax that they
receive.
(3)
Education;  Health Care; Housing; Transport; Water etc.
2.11
How much tax do businesses pay according to the text?
(1)
27%
2.12
Explain what VAT is and list two items that are VAT free.
(4)
Value added tax charged on goods and services. Fruit and vegetables,Milk, brown bread, eggs,
ETC
[25] [50]
10