Moyane axing draws mixed reactions

Mixed reaction greeted the dismissal of former South African Revenue Service (Sars) boss Tom Moyane by President Cyril Ramaphosa, with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) rejecting the move and Cope and the portfolio committee on finance welcoming it.

Ramaphosa announced the termination of Moyane’s services with immediate effect on Thursday after a recommendation made by the Commission of Inquiry into Governance and Administration at Sars, chaired by Judge Robert Nugent, that immediate action was needed to forestall any further deterioration of our tax administration system.

The president wrote to Moyane after the commission released its interim report, telling him that the inquiry “paints a deeply concerning picture of the current state of Sars and the reckless mismanagement which characterised your tenure as commissioner of Sars”.

“Of further, and in many ways greater, concern is your refusal to meaningfully participate in the Sars commission in order to assist with identifying the root causes of the systemic failures at Sars and ways in which to arrest these,” he said.

He highlighted that Moyane’s presentations in response to the commission failed entirely to deal with the substantive issues the report raised.

“The interim report makes clear that there is considerable evidence, which the Sars commission gathered, indicating that in order to resolve the challenges at Sars, it would be best to terminate your services,” he said.

Acting commissioner Mark Kingon will remain in the position until the vacant post is filled.

In an interview yesterday with SABC Morning Live’s Sakina Kamwendo, Kingon declined to discuss whether the position would be offered to him permanently.

However, he appeared to have a strong vision of what should happened to put Sars back on track.

But EFF national spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said the party rejected Ramaphosa’s decision to fire Moyane because he did it without following due and fair processes.

“This we see as part of a Ramaphosa’s general war against black professionals because exactly the same treatment was recently given to Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama,” said Ndlozi.

“Ramaphosa has fired Moyane because of the recommendations and advice of the interim report by the Nugent commission.

“This is clearly unlawful and unconstitutional for many reasons.

“Among them is that the Nugent commission itself may soon be declared to be unlawful by the Constitutional Court as it has been taken under review.”