Ramaphosa gives defiant Tom Moyane the boot

South African Revenue Service commissioner Tom Moyane was suspended last night with immediate effect after refusing to resign when urged to do so by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa cited the deterioration in public confidence in Sars and public finances being compromised among his reasons for suspending Moyane.

“I can confirm that the president has informed Mr Tom Moyane of his suspension with immediate effect,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Khusela Diko said in a statement last night.

“President Ramaphosa said it was in the public interest to restore the credibility of Sars without delay.”

Moyane has been under pressure to resign, partly due to the R48 billion shortfall in revenue collection and his handling of the allegations against his second-incharge, Jonas Makwakwa, who resigned last week.

Earlier yesterday Sars was vocal in its defence of Moyane, saying the revenue service is concerned about “the ongoing media onslaught” against Moyane.

Sars said the “unrelenting media attack” was threatening to undermine the integrity of the organisation

The Daily Maverick last week reported Moyane authorised a R70 million value-added tax refund to Gupta-linked company Oakbay Resources, against the advice of Sars officials and applicable legislation. Sars said that there was ample proof that Moyane had no role in the payment and had acted within the law.

Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene will announce the appointed of an acting commissioner for Sars in due course, Diko said in his statement.