KPMG’s final report on the SARS “rogue unit” should be made public

24 January 2015

The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, must act to prevent a full-scale “civil war” breaking out between himself and Tom Moyane, the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

The Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, Tom Moyane, reportedly sought a legal opinion on the powers of the Minister to intervene in the planned restructuring of SARS; and received a copy of KPMG’s final report on the SARS “rogue unit” on or about 04 December 2015.

The Minister should act to cool the temperature and prevent a full-scale “civil war” by immediately taking steps to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the restructuring of SARS and ensuring the KPMG’s final report on the SARS “rogue unit” is made public.

The Minister cannot afford to create the impression that he has something to hide when it comes to the SARS “rogue unit”. 

The Minister should therefore support, and be seen to be supporting, making the KPMG’s final report on the SARS “rogue unit” public.

I will, therefore, write to Yunus Carrim, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, requesting him to schedule a briefing by the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, on his approach to the challenges facing the South African Revenue Service.

In the end, South Africa simply cannot afford a full-scale “civil war” between the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, and Tom Moyane, the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service.

Statement issued by David Maynier, DA Shadow Minister of Finance, 24 January 2016