Makwakwa to return to Sars

JOHANNESBURG: SA Revenue Service (Sars) announced yesterday, its chief officer for business and individual tax Jonas Makwakwa will return to the organisation after he was cleared of charges.

In September 2016, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) submitted a report to Sars containing some serious allegations against Makwakwa regarding how large amounts of money ended up in his bank account.

Sars then sought an outside legal opinion on the matter after the commissioner, Tom Moyane, took the decision to suspend Makwakwa pending an independent investigation.

International law firm Hogan Lovells was appointed to investigate the matter.

Hogan Lovells submitted an investigation report which recommended that disciplinary action be taken against Makwakwa.

The law firm then appointed senior counsel advocate Terry Motau to chair the hearing.

“Sars wishes to confirm that advocate Motau, SC, has submitted the final report, which found that Makwakwa was not guilty of any of the charges levelled against him,” Sars said.

“This concludes the disciplinary action against Makwakwa.

“As (a) result Sars will immediately implement the outcome of the hearing as is. He will return to Sars to resume his position as CO: Bait with effect from November 1, 2017.”

However, DA spokesperson on finance Alf Lees said that they had written to the chairperson of the standing committee on finance to request that Sars be required to report in detail on the Makwakwa matter.

Lees said this must include a detailed explanation for the return to Sars of Makwakwa; an unabridged copy of the Hogan Lovells investigation report; whether the FIC had been informed of the outcome of the Hogan Lovells investigations; and what had been the outcome of the criminal investigation into the Makwakwa matter by the Hawks.

“Despite repeated requests by the DA for progress reports on the Hogan Lovells investigation Sars have steadfastly refused to give any reports.” – ANA