Moyane gets the boot

Acting on the interim report of the South African Revenue Service (Sars) Commission, President Cyril Ramaphosa fired Tom Moyane as commissioner of the revenue service yesterday with immediate effect.

Tom Moyane

Lead by retired judge, Robert Nugent, the commission said immediate action is needed to forestall any further deterioration of our tax administration system.

President studying Sars commission report

17 Oct 2018

In a letter to Moyane, the president said that the interim report “paints a deeply concerning picture of the current state of Sars and the reckless mismanagement which characterised your tenure as commissioner of Sars.

“The interim report makes clear that there is considerable evidence, which the Sars Commission gathered, indicating that in order to resolve the challenges at Sars, it would be best to terminate your services,” he said.

“Of further, and in many ways greater, concern is your refusal to meaningfully participate in the Sars Commission in order to assist with identifying the root causes of the systemic failures at Sars and ways in which to arrest these,” he said.

Moyane failed to give substantial reasons as to why the president should not apply the recommendations, Khusela Diko, presidential spokesperson told CapeTalk.

Mark Kingon, acting commissioner for Sars, remains in place until such time as the vacancy of national commissioner is filled.