Controversial Makwakwa resigns from Sars
Following months of protest from the opposition and civil society, Tom Moyane's go-to man has gone.
Tom Moyane, SARS commissioner, during a press briefing about the resignation of SARS official Jonas Makwakwa. Picture: Jacques Nelles
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) chief officer for business and individual tax, Jonas Makwakwa, has resigned for “personal reasons”.
Sars commissioner Tom Moyane announced Makwakwa’s resignation on Wednesday afternoon at a media briefing at the Linton House Auditorium in Pretoria.
Makwakwa has been dogged by accusations of corruption and that, among other things, he was paid a bonus while on suspension.
The Daily Maverick reported that Makwakwa received a R930 000 bonus in the 2016/2017 financial year, despite working for only six months before being suspended on allegations of corruption and money laundering.
Makwakwa, who is widely believed to be Moyane’s number two, was reinstated on November 1, after serving a year’s suspension after the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) flagged several suspicious payments into his bank account and that of another Sars employee, Kelly-Anne Elskie.
#SARS #Monyane says records will be made available to Parliament. @VK
— Virginia Keppler-Young (@VKeppler) March 14, 2018
Makwakwa was suspended last year, after the 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 Moyane took the decision to suspend Makwakwa pending an independent investigation into the allegations. The investigation by Advocate Motau SC cleared Makwakwa of the charges levelled against him.
#SARS #Monyane says as a commissioner I would be negligent if I do not admit that the issues surrounding @Makwakwa dit not taught us a lesson. @VK
— Virginia Keppler-Young (@VKeppler) March 14, 2018
#SARS #Monyane says they were going to comply with the committee and that the submitting of the report will be done. The deadline of 16 March is not negotiable #VK
— Virginia Keppler-Young (@VKeppler) March 14, 2018
#SARS #Monyane says he has no fears and sleeps well, but he is worried about meeting his target. #VK
— Virginia Keppler-Young (@VKeppler) March 14, 2018
#SARS #Monyane says he is working with Finance Minister Nene and has no doubt. I am not a doubting Thomas even though my name is Tom. #VK
— Virginia Keppler-Young (@VKeppler) March 14, 2018
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