There are two sides to this coin: one could see it as a blessing - something that you really want to do; or as a burden - being forced to do it.

Some people feel that it gives them nothing but anxiety because of the pressure on them to bring home a big paycheck and others feel that they want to give back to show how grateful they really are.

OFM News asked many people around Bloemfontein if they knew what #BlackTax is and most did not know.

According to News24 the term “Black Tax” is one that is used to say that one is sharing their salary with family members and making sure that they are well taken care of. This “tax” feeds an expectation that a person may be responsible to carry a burden if they’ve studied and found a job.

In an interview with Oprah, Trevor Noah said that the greatest gift his mother ever gave him, was telling him “my son, I may not be able to give you one cent in this world, but I promise you, I will not give you Black Tax. That is the one thing I will keep from you, I will handle it... You go and fly in the world.”

OFM News took to the streets to ask young people how they felt about “black tax” being passed on to them from generation to generation.

Omphile Mokgetti told OFM News she feels that she needs to give back to her mom. It has never been brought up in her household but she just knows that it is something she has to do.

“My mom told me that if I get my first job, my money is mine. She even said she doesn’t need anything but it’s just me, out of my heart, I want to give back to her.”

Another young adult, Sibusiso Maseko, said that black tax does not exist to him and that he has the utmost respect for his parents, but “he did not ask to be here”.

Refilwe Mofokeng said: “I am where I am today because of my parents and it would only be fair that I give back to them when I can. My first salary belongs to my parents without them even having to ask.”

“Having to pay my parents back is a good thing because I am where I am today because of all the sacrifices that they made. They paid my school fees and made sure I got good grades so that I could go to varsity. I feel like giving back to them is my way of showing my appreciation.”

OFM News/Sazly Hartzenberg