New presiding officer appointed for Moyane's disciplinary inquiry

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Azhar Bham SC as a new presiding officer for the inquiry into disciplinary charges against suspended South African Revenue Service (Sars) Commissioner Tom Moyane.

Tom Moyane

According to the Presidency, this follows an objection raised by Moyane regarding the links between Judge Kate O’Regan, who had initially been appointed as the presiding officer, and Corruption Watch, an NGO of which she is a board member.

“While the President is certain that Judge O’Regan would have adjudicated the matter objectively and that her position did not present a conflict, he decided that it would nevertheless be important to remove any possible perception of bias,” spokesperson to the President, Khusela Diko said.

Early this month, the Presidency served Moyane with disciplinary charges relating to alleged misconduct in violation of his duties and responsibilities in terms of the South African Revenue Service Act, Public Finance Management Act and Sars Code of Conduct.

The Presidency said “the disciplinary inquiry relates to alleged leadership and organisational failures”.

Retired Constitutional Court Judge O’Regan was appointed as presiding officer for the disciplinary inquiry.

The President has thanked Judge O’Regan for availing herself for this public service.