Presidency insists tax boss inquiry continues
The Presidency yesterday said nothing has changed regarding the disciplinary inquiry into suspended tax boss Tom Moyane.
This is after Moyane’s attorney‚ Eric Mabuza‚ welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa “blinking” in the face of his client’s latest demand to halt the disciplinary process or the commission of inquiry into tax administration and governance chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Robert Nugent.
Mabuza spoke on Moyane’s behalf at the media briefing in Illovo yesterday‚ saying that he was simply pushing for his client to receive fair treatment from the government.
Moyane is facing serious allegations and could potentially face criminal charges over his conduct while at the helm of the SA Revenue Service over the last four years.
Mabuza yesterday told journalists that Moyane was “pleasantly surprised” at Ramaphosa’s response on Friday to his request that either the disciplinary inquiry or the Nugent commission be halted.
Mabuza had again threatened legal action if Ramaphosa had failed to halt one of the two processes.
But Ramaphosa did not respond directly to the threat. He said he would await the outcome of a formal objection lodged against the disciplinary inquiry chaired by Advocate Azhar Bham‚ to be heard on July 21‚ before taking a decision.
In yet another backtrack‚ Mabuza yesterday said Moyane would now only approach the courts after July 21‚ should Bham respond unfavourably to his request for the evidence in his disciplinary inquiry so far to be expunged.
Presidency spokeswoman Khusela Sangoni yesterday said the Presidency was pleased that Moyane was happy‚ but was not sure what was meant by Mabuza. He said Ramaphosa had “blinked” and he interpreted the president’s response as relenting to his demands.
“Both processes as distinct as they will continue as they were meant to or were anticipated to‚” she said.
“Nothing therefore has been changed‚” she said.