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Thomas Moyane is SA's new taxman

Tax compliance is crucial if South Africa is to effectively serve the interests of it people and Thomas Swabihi Moyane, newly appointed commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), promises that he will be working with the team to close any loopholes that exist.

"I look forward to working with the successful team at SARS to assist with taking forward all priority development programmes and policies," Moyane said.

Moyane's appointment was announced by the Presidency last week. "It is not a job that would be easy to fill ... it was a right choice, at the right time," Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said in Pretoria on Thursday, when he introduced Moyane.

"Mr Moyane brings in a lot of experience - both in the public sector and private sector – and his academic qualifications also put him in good stead," Nene said. As the commissioner, Moyane's primary responsibility will be administration and the collection of taxes.

Moyane, a development economist, recently served as the advisor on turnaround and security strategies at the State Information Technology Agency.

He is also the former National Commissioner at the Department of Correctional Services.

Targets

SARS had set a target to collect R994-billion this year, and next month the organisation would table its medium-term budget.

"With respect to organisations and companies, I am yet to sit with the team and identify the tax dodgers, and say what is it that we need to do to close the loopholes that exist in the process,” said Moyane.

He said that once that had been done, he would have a strategy and a roadmap to address shortfalls that exist.

Business Day reports that Mopanye's plans also include bringing state expenditure under control and he has already cautioned government departments to work within their budgets as "extras" would not simply be dished out.

Measures

"What is important is we need to maintain stability and a sense of assurance to all South Africans," the newspaper quotes Mopanye as saying. "There should be no extras and if there are, there should be mitigating reasons as to why the government department needs additional cash.

"If we don’t put some form of measures in place, then we are going to have a free-for- all situation."

Moyane will replace Oupa Magashula, who resigned in July 2013 after an investigation led by retired Judge Jak Yacoob found that he had "placed the reputation and credibility of SARS at risk" because of his relationship with convicted drug dealer Pantanathan "Timmy" Marimuthu.

SAinfo reporter and SAnews.gov

Related links:

SA Revenue Service

The Presidency