Harsh lesson for others

THE resignation of Oupa Magashula as SA Revenue Services Commissioner has important lessons for public office bearers.

He resigned after a probe corroborated reports that he had held an improper meeting with Timothy Marimuthu, a drug dealer with tax problems.

In that meeting Marimuthu introduced Magashula, via a cellphone conversation, to Nosipho Mba, a woman who was apparently looking for a job at SARS.

Magashula gave Mba his private e-mail address to which she would send her CV for consideration. When the story about the meeting broke, backed by a video recording, Magashula denied any wrongdoing. He told an inquiry instituted to investigate his conduct that he never had subsequent contact with Mba.

The inquiry, conducted by retired constitutional court judge Zak Yacoob and Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane found he placed the reputation of SARS at risk and lied. He had an “overintimate and almost haughty conversation with Mba”.

This happened in a particular context. Marimuthu apparently used to boast that his tax problems were sorted because he had Magashula, a senior official, in his pocket.

Yacoob and Sikhakhane’s report is suggestive – albeit not revealing – about what could possibly have been the intention of Marimuthu when he introduced Mba to Magashula.

It was discovered, despite Magashula ’ s denials, that Mba sent her CV in one of several e-mail correspondences. In one e-mail she addressed him as “Gashu” – a tantalising abbreviation.

The conclusion – that Magashula’s conduct compromised the reputation of SARS – is crafted in a way that it could be referring to all state institutions harbouring rot at the top level.

“There is no doubt that if this important institution loses credibility ... consequent upon the conduct of its employees, that conduct would have a direct effect on whether taxpayers will be honest in the determination of the amount they owe to the country, ” the report says.

“In addition, if this conduct is taken lightly, other senior officials of SARS might begin to think that they too can behave in the same way with relative impunity. ”

The report adds: “It is vital that in addition to the appropriate action against the commissioner, every conceivable step be taken to make sure that all officials, in particular senior officials, conduct themselves with required integrity...”

The same must be said of many state institutions and their respective leaders. Rot has nestled at the pinnacle of the state.