SARS wastes no time replacing Makwakwa

Cape Town - The SA Revenue Service has wasted no time in finding a replacement for former chief officer of business and individual tax Jonas Makwakwa.

SARS announced Mark Kingon as the acting chief officer of business and individual tax just hours after it was announced that Makwakwa resigned with immediate effect from the same position.

SARS commissioner Tom Moyane announced Makwakwa’s resignation from the tax collection service on Wednesday afternoon, citing personal reasons.

Moyane will brief Parliament next week on a series of reports and an internal investigation probing accusations against Makwakwa. In a statement SARS said Kingon had nearly 34 years of experience at the tax body.

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“SARS has full confidence in the abilities of Mr Kingon to manage this new additional role as we continue with our absolutely important mandate of collecting all revenue due to the fiscus to fuel our country’s growth and development,” the statement said.

Makwakwa leaves SARS under a cloud over Mahube Payment Solutions, New Integrated Credit Solutions and the latter’s business relationship with the tax body as its partner in debt collections.

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Before leaving Makwakwa wrote to Moyane allowing Parliament’s standing committee on finance access to his personal tax information and reports into his conduct at the revenue service.

This is in light of matters including an amount of R600 000 allegedly landing in Makwakwa’s account from a business supplying services to SARS.