‘Updates at Sars stalled’

The digital infrastructure at the SA Revenue Service may be on a verge of collapse following the halting of a modernisation programme at the revenue service four years ago.

This was according to Sars acting group executive for IT strategy and architecture André Rabie‚ who was testifying at the commission of inquiry into tax administration and governance at the revenue service on Monday.

According to Rabie‚ the service was far behind in updating its digital infrastructure after now-suspended commissioner Tom Moyane carried out his new operating model‚ which saw the total overhaul of various structures at Sars‚ including information technology.

Rabie said an almost decade-long programme to modernise the revenue service had been brought to a halt when Moyane took over.

“We already created a platform to build on. And the trajectory was basically to continue improving on that.

“We understood what needed to be done next‚” Rabie said.

Shortly after his arrival‚ Moyane appointed global consultancy Gartner to assess Sars’ IT system and strategy – which cost about R200m.

“The modernisation programme was suddenly stopped.

“Effectively‚ infrastructure is far behind,” Rabie said. –