SARS bosses join state purge
Charges dropped after resignations, golden handshakes uncertain
SOUTH African Revenue Service deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay and the organisation’s strategic planning risk group executive, Peter Richter, yesterday became the latest in a string of high-ranking government officials whose tenures have been cut short by controversy and criminal accusation.
Now questions are being raised over whether the two, like at least two of their counterparts, will receive golden handshakes despite leaving the organisation they headed in disarray.
Pillay, the former acting SARS commissioner, and Richter were under investigation for operating a rogue spy unit within SARS and were due to face a disciplinary hearing and possible criminal charges. But since their resignation, all charges against them have been dropped.
Their resignations come just weeks after a string of controversial resignations and suspensions:
Two weeks ago South African Airways chief Monwabisi Kalawe resigned after reaching an out-of- court settlement to stop a disciplinary hearing into him. He was allegedly given a golden handshake made up of six months’ salary and pay for leave owed to him;
Last month, former Hawks head Lieutenant-General Anwa Dramat allegedly received a resignation package of R13-million;
Last year, disgraced SABC head Ellen Tshabalala resigned amid a storm around her fake qualifications, and questions have since been raised over whether she has received a golden handshake.
The resignation of Dramat, who was being investigated for his role in the rendition of Zimbabwean political dissidents to that country – in which at least one person was murdered – has embroiled Independent Police Investigative Directorate head Robert McBride.
McBride, charged on Wednesday with misconduct, is suspended for allegedly altering reports into Dramat’s involvement in the renditions.
Political analyst Mzoxolo Mpolase said while golden handshakes were known human resources practice within corporates, it was worrying when they found their way in- to state employee contracts.
“While one is being fired, one is being rewarded, getting your money’s worth regardless of whether you have done a good job or not.”
That the majority of those embroiled in the scandals were political figures, meant their appointments were political, Mpolase said.
“This means institutions which are meant to have some level of independence in going about their business, have effectively been politicised.
“All these institutions, which rely on neutrality and a level of independence to perform their jobs well, can’t perform as they operate on the whims of whoever is in power.”
Mpolase said that since President Jacob Zuma came to power, there had been a greater personalisation of state institutions, meaning vital duties could not be carried out by state institutions.
Mpolase said because it had become so personalised by design, one now saw people being selected because of their inexperience and ineptness to run departments and institutions, affecting competence.
He said the incompetence was being spread throughout South Africa’s state institutions through the recycling of controversial executives .
Helen Suzman Foundation director Francis Antonie said the controversies within state institutions seemed to be widespread and never-ending.
“SARS had built up an extraordinary reputation under the previous head. They were reliable and functional. This exit of senior managers and executives is troubling. It affects the capacity of the state to collect taxes, an important function of SARS, and without those taxes, we can’t do very much. ”
But the government says it is satisfied with how the relevant ministers of the affected state institutions are handling the situation.
Government spokesman Phumla Williams said the government was committed to ensure the stability of all government institutions and to discharge its responsibilities.
But experts say the investigations involving the heads of the country’s crime, intelligence and revenue collection agencies paint a bleak picture for the country, with South Africa becoming increasingly unsafe and public confidence in the state at an all-time low.
Political analyst Shadrack Gutto said it was clear the turbulence within vital state institutions would have an impact on the economy.
“Institutions, such as Ipid, are meant to have constitutionally enshrined independence, but their very independence is being called into question.” The way the problems were being aired indicated strong political inference.
Gutto said these institutions were being rendered dysfunctional.
“Once you have weak institutions it’s difficult for the public to have confidence in them.”
Institute for Security Studies policing researcher Johan Burger said the public had no reason to have confidence in the criminal justice system because instead of fighting criminals, the police, Hawks, NPA and Ipid were “fighting criminals within their own ranks”.
“What is being shown daily, is that these people cannot be trusted. They are no longer able to focus their attention on criminals out there.”
DA shadow police minister Dianne Kohler Barnard said anything would be done to make scandals disappear, especially when tough questions were asked about things like Zuma and Nkandla.
“What’s common among a number of these scandals, especially in terms of Dramat and Pillay, is Nkandla.
“Dramat wanted the Hawks to investigate the Nkandla scandal and SARS was asking how much the president had to pay in taxes.
“Days after these questions and demands were made, investigations were launched, with the people suspended.
“Deals are then made where these people are offered handsome golden handshakes to resign, with all the charges evaporating the moment they do.”