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Johannesburg - Public Protector Thuli Madonsela has called on the SA
Revenue Service (Sars) to help her office probe fraud, abuse of power and
corruption.
"We have been exploring the possibility of approaching
you for assistance in the difficult issue of investigations into abuse of funds
through irregular practices such as fraud, abuse of power and corruption,"
she said on Tuesday.
Madonsela was speaking at a Sars national legal workshop in
Durban.
The public protector's office needed help from Sars because
the tax man's office had systems reputed to be among the best in the world, she
said.
"My office is exploring the possibility of benchmarking
with your office particularly, in the area of automated case management."
Sars was seen as a leader on professionalism, she said.
Madonsela said questionable relationships usually lay at the core of irregular
tenders and other financial wrongdoing.
"As you know, Companies and Intellectual Property
Registration Office records mean nothing these days. Sophisticated ways are
designed every day to channel the proceeds of inflated and improperly awarded
tenders. Perhaps you could help us."
The collaboration could be done through the proposed Tax Administration Bill. Madonsela said it was in Sars' interest to ensure public funds were not squandered.
