SA Revenue Service (Sars) second-in-command Jonas Makwakwa has been suspended pending a full investigation, reports emerged on Thursday.
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Mail & Guardian reported that 75 cash deposits totalling R785 130 were made into Makwakwa’s account, and 48 of these deposits were made between 2014 and 2015, when Makwakwa became powerful at Sars.
Moyane did not act on the damning report until DA MP David Maynier asked uncomfortable questions about the matter in Parliament. This included providing both officials with the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
National Treasury said it had met with Sars Commissioner Tom Moyane and another senior official this week to discuss the matter.
“I believe Sars has followed the correct procedure in terms of our policies when it comes to such serious allegations of misconduct”.
The Sunday Times reported that Makwakwa‚ SARS chief officer for business and individual taxes‚ had received “unexplained” cash deposits and bank transfers amounting to R1.2m between 2010 and 2016.
Deposits of R450,000 were also made into his girlfriend’s bank account, who is also a Sars employee.
We are concerned about what appears to have been an undue delay in dealing with this matter, not least because it was raised with Tom Moyane at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance on 23 August 2016.
At the same time, the Ministry of Finance in a statement says it’s noted reports of Makwakwa’s suspension, but says that as at 13h25 National Treasury had yet to be formally notified.
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National Treasury said it believed that “public confidence and transparency are critical in order to be seen to be doing the right thing in this matter”.
