By Thapelo Molefe
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for a period of five years, effective from 1 May.
The appointment was made in terms of section 6 of the South African Revenue Service Act of 1997, following a unanimous recommendation by a selection panel convened by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
Makhubu, who currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Engagement and Operations, will succeed Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, whose contract concludes on 30 April.
Ramaphosa welcomed the appointment as a victory for institutional stability.
“The change in the leadership of SARS shows how sound succession planning contributes to the capability of the state,” Ramaphosa said.
The president described SARS as the “institution that provides the financial resources necessary for the government to function, fund infrastructure, and pay for social services.”
Makhubu is a seasoned executive with over 17 years of senior leadership experience across the public and private sectors.
His professional background includes senior roles in the mining, power generation, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries.
Since 2020, he has been a key architect of the “Vision 2024” strategy, which helped SARS achieve a compounded annual revenue growth rate of 7.6% and a 3.4% point increase in voluntary compliance.
Academic excellence and spiritual leadership are central to Makhubu’s biography.
He holds a PhD in Leadership from the University of Pretoria, a Master’s degree in Business Leadership from UNISA, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Outside of his corporate responsibilities, he is a prominent pastor at the Hope Restoration Ministries, where he is known for his teachings on ethical leadership and purpose.
The president expressed his “appreciation and high regard for Commissioner Kieswetter’s incisive and innovative leadership,” noting that he successfully positioned SARS as a “critical enabler of fiscal stability, social delivery, trade facilitation, and the enablement of domestic and foreign investment.”
Upon taking office, Makhubu will also assume the role of Chair of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF).
His term is expected to focus on continuing the digital transformation of the revenue service and strengthening the moral contract between the state and its taxpayers.
INSIDE POLITICS
