WANTED: New SARS Commissioner for SA

The process of finding a new commissioner for the SA Revenue Service (SARS) has been taken one step further by the placement of an advertisement in this regard in the Sunday Times on Sunday.

It states that applications are invited for this position.

"The Commissioner will be required to formulate, lead and direct the business strategy for SARS in order to deliver on its mandate," the advertisement states.

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It said the successful applicant will be "an individual who reflects the highest professional standards…with high levels of professionalism, integrity, accountability".

It will be expected of the new commissioner to "ensure superior quality service".

The advertisement further states that the ideal candidate will have to behave honestly and with integrity and be able to leverage diversity.

The closing date for applications is 18 January 2018.

The final report of the Nugent Commission of Inquiry into governance at SARS was handed to President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday.

Former SARS commissioner Tom Moyane was removed by Ramaphosa in November this year, following a recommendation contained in the interim Nugent report.

The Presidency said in a statement on Friday that the president is studying the final report and will apply his mind to its detailed recommendations.

The final report recommends that the process by which the SARS commissioner is appointed be changed.

• READ: Moyane 'seized control of SARS as if it was his to have'

Fin24 reported earlier that the final Nugent report recommends that the SARS Act be amended to provide for the appointment of the commissioner by the president, after consultation with the minister of finance.

The final report recommends that the president should call for nominations or select candidates. They should then be subjected to a private interview by an apolitical panel of four or more members selected by the president, the final report recommends.

It recommends that this panel should make non-prescriptive recommendations to the president and their selection should be made public after the appointment.

The advertisement for the position of SARS commissioner states that “all shortlisted candidates will be subjected to a technical exercise that intends to test relevant elements of the job” and that the successful candidate will have to sign a performance agreement.