Moyane before CCMA?
SARS SUED: MIGHT BE CALLED TO DISPUTE LACKAY’S TESTIMONY
Former senior spokesperson says he was increasingly sidelined during flood of ‘rogue unit’ media queries.
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane may be called on to dispute elements of his former spokesperson Adrian Lackay’s testimony at the Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in Johannesburg yesterday.
Sars advocate Wisani Sibuyi also said it suspended deputy commissioner Jonas Makwakwa – suspended in September 2016 after R1.3 million was deposited into his and his girlfriend, Sars employee Kelly-Ann Elskie’s, bank accounts – could also dispute certain allegations made by Lackay.
The former spokesperson is suing Sars for constructive dismissal, claiming working conditions became so bad he was forced into resigning from the company he had worked at from 2003 until February 2015.
Sibuyi said Makwakwa would deny aspects of Lackay’s testimony, especially relating to when Lackay had said he was in the office. “Mr Makwakwa will testify he looked for you and couldn’t find you,” Sibuyi charged Lackay, who responded he was unaware of the allegation.
Sibuyi also tried to crack Lackay’s previous testimony about going on leave despite failing to liaise with Moyane as he had been instructed.
Lackay had said he had tried to find Moyane before going on leave, yet Sibuyi showed evidence of Moyane having sent an e-mail on the day he left.
However, Lackay had set up an automated response on his e-mail before leaving for the day and had never received it.
In his previous testimony before commissioner Joyce Nkopane, Lackay has described how he – as Sars’ senior spokesperson – was increasingly sidelined in the organisation’s “darkest hours”.
It was during January and February
Mr Makwakwa will testify he looked for you and couldn’t find you.
of 2015 and media enquiries over the “rogue unit” – since disproved – were flooding into Sars.
Lackay said yesterday he had found out about group executive Johan van Loggerenberg’s resignation through media reports.
Sibuyi yesterday tried to make it seem that it was normal for Lackay’s bosses to boost the media team at a time when the now discredited “rogue unit” narrative was flooding headlines.
However, Lackay countered he would have been fine with it if he had been kept in the loop, but he had no idea of what was going on and press releases were being issued by people who were not media professionals.
The hearing continues today. –
Wisani Sibuyi Sars advocate