DA welcomes swift action on Oupa Magashula, but questions remain

The DA welcomes the establishment of an investigation into South African Revenue Services Commissioner (SARS), Oupa Magashula by Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, following allegations that he used his position of power to offer a R700 000 post at the tax authority to a woman connected to convicted drug dealer Panganathan Marimuthu.

The DA's request to Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, who is mandated by the Constitution to consider such alleged acts of impropriety within public entities, will remain. We trust that her investigation will supplement that of the retired judge, as announced by Mr Gordhan yesterday.

Several questions, however, still remain into the nature of Mr Gordhan's investigation, as well as its terms of reference. The Minister must reveal this information urgently so that South Africans can have full confidence in this special investigation he has initiated.

I will therefore be submitting parliamentary questions to the Minister to establish these details, in particular: 

• Who is the retired judge which will head up this investigation?
• What are the terms of reference for this investigation?
• Whether Mr Magashula will remain in his position until this investigation is completed?
• Whether the Minister has received any other complaints regarding Mr Magashula's conduct in the past?
• Whether the Minister will be taking any action against Mr Marimuthu for his alleged attempts to bribe senior officials in the department?

These steps taken to protect the integrity of SARS are welcomed. But South Africans deserve full transparency and openness about the investigation. 

Statement issued by Tim Harris MP, DA Shadow Minister of Finance, March 25 2013

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter