Johnathan Paoli
President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially extended the term of SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter for an additional two years.
The Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday that the decision followed an agreement between the President and Kieswetter, to extend the tenure of the commissioner to enable an orderly leadership transition in the organisation.
Kieswetter was appointed in March 2019 and took office for his five-year term in May of that year, whilst in June last year, he appointed three deputy commissioners, following a recommendation made by the Nugent Commission back in 2018 which investigated state capture at the country’s taxation utility.
The three appointments were intended to lay the basis for succession, however, by the end of April, when Kieswetter would have left, none had yet been a year in their new roles, which has led to some expressing the concern for a longer transition period, given the complexity and demands of the position.
Previously, the consulting firm Bain & Company ended up repaying revenue for its botched restructuring of the tax agency, with interest amounting to R217m, according to a final report of the Sars Commission of Inquiry chaired by retired judge Robert Nugent.
Despite his re-nomination, Kieswetter has expressed his desire to retire from the tax commission, but the President has required him to remain in order to ensure a sustainable transition.
The Presidency said Kieswetter will continue leading the execution of the current strategic direction of the revenue service while ensuring a smooth leadership transition.
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