SARS
SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, has rejected assertions by EFF leader Julius Malema that he was instructed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe the tax affairs of people who attended and sponsored the party’s recent 10th anniversary gala dinner.
He said Malema’s remarks at the end of a media briefing on Wednesday, was preceded by a statement that he made at the party’s anniversary rally that SARS was “harassing his family with a view to find anything unlawful against him for nefarious purpose.”
Kieswetter said SARS does not, as a matter of routine, comment on statements made about it in the party-political realm.
However, he said “SARS is however duty bound on this occasion to issue a response. SARS categorically and strongly denies that any such meeting between President Ramaphosa and Commissioner Kieswetter took place.”
The SA Revenue Service said Kieswetter said on many occasions that he would resign if there was any undue influence on his work or if were to be given an unlawful instruction.
“Commissioner Kieswetter has worked relentlessly to rebuild SARS after it was repurposed by individuals to further the corrupt intent of State Capture.
He would therefore work to protect the hard work of more than 12 500 SARS employees rather than entertain any unlawful request.”
