Gordhan worried about SARS under Tom Moyane

FINANCE Minister Pravin Gordhan has expressed “serious concern” about the stewardship of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) under commissioner Tom Moyane.

This was because of the way he handled allegations against his second-in-command‚ Jonas Makwakwa.

Makwakwa and his girlfriend‚ Kelly-Ann Elskie‚ a SARS employee‚ are under investigation for “suspicious and unusual” bank transactions.

Gordhan’s comments in a series of written replies on Thursday to questions in parliament by DA finance spokesman David Maynier attest to the breakdown in relations between the minister and Moyane.

Judge Dennis Davis, who heads the Davis Tax Committee, has previously described the relationship as “intolerable”.

Gordhan highlighted a number of Moyane’s failures‚ such as his neglect in taking immediate action when informed by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) about the R1.2million in deposits made into Makwakwa’s bank accounts and R450 000 into Elskie’s account.

There was also his failure to report the Makwakwa matter timeously to Gordhan as the minister responsible for SARS.

Gordhan also voiced his concern over the “lack of accountability and co-operation” from top SARS management and was considering strengthening their accountability obligations.

Gordhan believes it is vital to know why Moyane took more than four months after receiving the information from the FIC in May before taking action‚ and then only when it was reported in the media.

This knowledge was necessary to protect the reputation of SARS‚ he said. — TMG