ActionSA calls on President Ramaphosa to ensure that the appointment of the next Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is conducted through a transparent, credible process and that the successful candidate is drawn from within SARS’s existing leadership.
The importance of the SARS Commissioner cannot be overstated. As the custodian of South Africa’s tax administration, the Commissioner plays a decisive role in safeguarding revenue collection, investor confidence, and fiscal sustainability. The period of institutional decay at SARS during the State Capture era demonstrated how vulnerable the organisation becomes under weak or compromised leadership.
Conversely, the tenure of the current Commissioner, Mr Edward Kieswetter, has shown how strong, principled leadership can restore credibility, rebuild capacity, and position SARS once again as one of the most trusted and effective government institutions.
ActionSA commends Commissioner Kieswetter for his contribution over the past seven years. Under his leadership, SARS has undergone a sustained recovery, marked by organisational stabilisation, improved governance, and meaningful innovation. These reforms include expanded digitisation to improve efficiency and compliance, active engagement with taxpayers to enhance user experience, and a renewed focus on combating illicit trade, which continues to undermine crucial revenue streams, economic growth and job creation. Collectively, these efforts have restored confidence in SARS domestically and internationally.
With Commissioner Kieswetter’s contract set to conclude in mid-2026, ActionSA believes it is imperative that the transition to new leadership is managed carefully and proactively. Appointing the next Commissioner from within SARS would ensure continuity, protect institutional memory, and preserve the reform momentum achieved over the past several years. Given the depth of expertise within SARS’s current executive leadership, including the appointment of three Deputy Commissioners in June 2023, there is no compelling case for an external appointment that could disrupt organisational stability.
Equally important is that the appointment process itself adheres strictly to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS, chaired by retired Judge Robert Nugent. While the South African Revenue Service Act vests the final appointment authority in the President, the Nugent Commission was clear that this decision should be guided by an independent, apolitical selection panel composed of individuals of high standing who can inspire confidence across the tax-paying public. Any deviation from this process would risk undermining the credibility and independence of SARS at a critical moment.
Despite years of underfunding, SARS continues to perform exceptionally well, collecting more than R2 trillion annually and accounting for over 80% of government revenue. This performance is central to the government’s ability to fund public services without placing additional pressure on already overburdened taxpayers. It is therefore vital that SARS’s effectiveness is not compromised by poor leadership choices or politicised appointments.
Since entering Parliament, ActionSA has consistently advocated for the proper funding of SARS as a more sustainable alternative to increasing taxes on ordinary South Africans. A capable, well-resourced SARS improves compliance and revenue collection, reducing the need for measures such as VAT increases and more borrowing. Following ActionSA’s submissions during last year’s budget process, National Treasury increased funding to SARS, contributing to an additional R20 billion in revenue collection to date. ActionSA will continue to push for sustained investment in SARS to close South Africa’s estimated R800 billion tax gap and to strengthen the fight against the illicit economy.
Protecting SARS from political interference and ensuring leadership continuity is not only a matter of good governance, but a fiscal imperative. ActionSA will remain vigilant in holding the President and the executive accountable to this standard in the appointment of the next SARS Commissioner.
ActionSA Urges Internal Appointment to Protect SARS After Kieswetter’s Departure
ActionSA calls on President Ramaphosa to ensure that the appointment of the next Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is conducted through a transparent, credible process and that the successful candidate is drawn from within SARS’s existing leadership.
The importance of the SARS Commissioner cannot be overstated. As the custodian of South Africa’s tax administration, the Commissioner plays a decisive role in safeguarding revenue collection, investor confidence, and fiscal sustainability. The period of institutional decay at SARS during the State Capture era demonstrated how vulnerable the organisation becomes under weak or compromised leadership.
Conversely, the tenure of the current Commissioner, Mr Edward Kieswetter, has shown how strong, principled leadership can restore credibility, rebuild capacity, and position SARS once again as one of the most trusted and effective government institutions.
ActionSA commends Commissioner Kieswetter for his contribution over the past seven years. Under his leadership, SARS has undergone a sustained recovery, marked by organisational stabilisation, improved governance, and meaningful innovation. These reforms include expanded digitisation to improve efficiency and compliance, active engagement with taxpayers to enhance user experience, and a renewed focus on combating illicit trade, which continues to undermine crucial revenue streams, economic growth and job creation. Collectively, these efforts have restored confidence in SARS domestically and internationally.
With Commissioner Kieswetter’s contract set to conclude in mid-2026, ActionSA believes it is imperative that the transition to new leadership is managed carefully and proactively. Appointing the next Commissioner from within SARS would ensure continuity, protect institutional memory, and preserve the reform momentum achieved over the past several years. Given the depth of expertise within SARS’s current executive leadership, including the appointment of three Deputy Commissioners in June 2023, there is no compelling case for an external appointment that could disrupt organisational stability.
Equally important is that the appointment process itself adheres strictly to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS, chaired by retired Judge Robert Nugent. While the South African Revenue Service Act vests the final appointment authority in the President, the Nugent Commission was clear that this decision should be guided by an independent, apolitical selection panel composed of individuals of high standing who can inspire confidence across the tax-paying public. Any deviation from this process would risk undermining the credibility and independence of SARS at a critical moment.
Despite years of underfunding, SARS continues to perform exceptionally well, collecting more than R2 trillion annually and accounting for over 80% of government revenue. This performance is central to the government’s ability to fund public services without placing additional pressure on already overburdened taxpayers. It is therefore vital that SARS’s effectiveness is not compromised by poor leadership choices or politicised appointments.
Since entering Parliament, ActionSA has consistently advocated for the proper funding of SARS as a more sustainable alternative to increasing taxes on ordinary South Africans. A capable, well-resourced SARS improves compliance and revenue collection, reducing the need for measures such as VAT increases and more borrowing. Following ActionSA’s submissions during last year’s budget process, National Treasury increased funding to SARS, contributing to an additional R20 billion in revenue collection to date. ActionSA will continue to push for sustained investment in SARS to close South Africa’s estimated R800 billion tax gap and to strengthen the fight against the illicit economy.
Protecting SARS from political interference and ensuring leadership continuity is not only a matter of good governance, but a fiscal imperative. ActionSA will remain vigilant in holding the President and the executive accountable to this standard in the appointment of the next SARS Commissioner.