Lackay airs Sars’ dirty laundry at CCMA

Former South African Revenue Service (Sars) head spokesperson Adrian Lackay continued lifting the lid on allegations of a covert “rogue unit” at the institution.

In his third and final day of testimony during his constructive dismissal case before Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) commissioner Joyce Nkopane, Lackay described how he was increasingly sidelined in the organisation’s darkest hours.

Lackay described how Luther Lebelo, an executive manager for employee relations at Sars’ human resources department, was parachuted in to the spokesperson position.

During this time– around January and February 2015, when enquiries about the rogue unit had flooded into Sars – Lackay said then acting chief operating officer Jonas Makwakwa told him Lebelo would “handle the media, going forward”.

READ MORE: Lackay feared for his reputation in ‘rogue unit’ matter 

“The problem with this was that I was still the first port of call for journalists,” Lackay said.

“And at times, I was put in a position where I could not respond to them in an informed manner. I had to refer them to Mr Lebelo, or say I couldn’t assist them.”

Lackay told the CCMA how Lebelo had on one occasion forwarded him queries from a journalist.

“He addressed me as ‘chief’, with the request: ‘can you advice (sic) accordingly?’,” Lackay said.

“I proceeded to present draft answers, which were mailed back to Mr Lebelo.”

The former head spokesperson also gave several examples of how Lebelo would send responses to media queries handled by Lackay under his own name.

Lackay eventually resigned on February 19, 2015.

Sars’ advocate, Wisani Sibuyi, will lead Lackay’s cross-examination today.

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