Madonsela - we must be beyond reproach
Speaking at the SA Revenue Service (SARS) National Legal Workshop in Durban, public protector Thuli Madonsela said that wrongdoers will use faults to try to elicit sympathy - "we must be beyond reproach", she said, thanking the organisers for the opportunity to listen to an overview of the Tax Administration Bill and discuss pertinent operational and strategic issues with a view to enhancing service delivery.
Madonsela noted that there are parallels between issues SARS is dealing with and challenges South Africa's public protector is grappling with, notably - good governance, automated services, legislative reform and questions on how to deal with certain types of evidence. "Our Constitution is known the world over for being among those considered to be progressive," she said - paying special attention to the Bill of Rights, guaranteeing "basic rights such as the right to adequate housing, healthcare, food, water, social security and education, among other things."
However, said Madonsela, government needs vast resources, in order to deliver on these and, therefore, revenue collection is essential. This is where SARS - an acknowledged leader in professionalism - come in. Madonsela listed the key principles of accountability, integrity and responsiveness as the focus of government agencies' efforts to improve existing operations and to promote good governance in the management of all state affairs.
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