In a statement, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said that Magashula resigned with immediate effect, following the outcome of an investigation into allegations of impropriety against him, which was instituted by retired Constitutional Court Judge, Justice Yacoob.
Gordhan said the allegations were based on a telephone conversation during which Magashula was recorded offering a Chartered Accountant (CA) a job at SARS. The conversation was facilitated by Timothy Marimuthu whom media reports alleged had influence over Magashula.
“The effect of these reports was to raise questions about the integrity of staff recruitment processes at Sars,” he said.
Gordhan appointed Yacoob to establish whether Magashula had breached Sars processes or good governance; to report on the nature of any possible indiscretion by Magashula; to report on the influence that Marimuthu was alleged to have had over Magashula; and to advise Gordhan on any appropriate remedies where breaches may have occurred.
He said the committee did not have powers to subpoena witnesses and people who gave evidence before the committee did so voluntarily.
This meant that all the people who gave evidence to the committee, especially those who were named in the report, had to give consent for publication of those sections of the report that relate to their evidence.
Deputy Commissioner at Sars, Ivan Pillay has been appointed acting Commissioner until the appointment of a new head.
Go to SARS for a detailed report.
