ConCourt clips Tom Moyane’s wings

The Constitutional Court has dismissed ousted SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane’s application to review and set aside the decision to establish the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance at Sars.

In its ruling yesterday, the apex court said Moyane failed to establish grounds for the engagement of the court’s exclusive jurisdiction. It said no basis was set out to permit direct access considering he has other avenues available.

Moyane launched an appeal after President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted recommendations made by the inquiry to fire him to restore stability at the struggling revenue collector.

In his appeal, Moyane was supported by former president Jacob Zuma who, in an affidavit, said he never intended that the Sars inquiry deal with employment issues or with employment contracts of individual employees.

Moyane has denied any wrongdoing and hails himself as the most successful Sars commissioner in the democratic history of South Africa.