ActionSA welcomes the appointment of Johnstone Makhubu as the new Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service. This appointment aligns with ActionSA’s long-standing call for an internal candidate to lead SARS, ensuring continuity, protecting institutional knowledge, and sustaining the reform momentum achieved in recent years.
Mr Makhubu brings deep institutional experience, having served in senior leadership roles within SARS since 2016, most recently as Deputy Commissioner responsible for Taxpayer Engagement and Operations. His tenure as Chief Revenue Officer, as well as prior roles as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer, positions him well to oversee SARS’s complex operational environment, strengthen compliance, and further professionalise taxpayer services. His appointment provides the stability required to build on the significant progress made in restoring SARS’s effectiveness.
ActionSA believes this continuity is critical at a time when SARS has demonstrated its value to the fiscus, including achieving a historic milestone of collecting more than R2 trillion in revenue. Sustaining and expanding this performance will require consistent leadership, ongoing investment, and a clear focus on closing South Africa’s substantial tax gap.
ActionSA also reiterates its appreciation to outgoing Commissioner Edward Kieswetter for his leadership in rebuilding SARS into a credible and capable institution following the damage inflicted during the years of State Capture. The smooth transition to Mr Makhubu reflects the strength of SARS’s current leadership bench.
While welcoming this appointment, ActionSA emphasises that safeguarding SARS’s independence and operational integrity remains paramount. The Commissioner must be empowered to act without political interference and supported with the necessary resources to enhance revenue collection, combat illicit trade, and improve voluntary compliance.
ActionSA will continue to advocate for sustained investment in SARS as a proven alternative to increasing the tax burden on South Africans. A capable and well-resourced SARS remains central to fiscal sustainability, economic growth, and restoring public trust in the state.
ActionSA Welcomes Appointment of Johnstone Makhubu as SARS Commissioner
ActionSA welcomes the appointment of Johnstone Makhubu as the new Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service. This appointment aligns with ActionSA’s long-standing call for an internal candidate to lead SARS, ensuring continuity, protecting institutional knowledge, and sustaining the reform momentum achieved in recent years.
Mr Makhubu brings deep institutional experience, having served in senior leadership roles within SARS since 2016, most recently as Deputy Commissioner responsible for Taxpayer Engagement and Operations. His tenure as Chief Revenue Officer, as well as prior roles as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Procurement Officer, positions him well to oversee SARS’s complex operational environment, strengthen compliance, and further professionalise taxpayer services. His appointment provides the stability required to build on the significant progress made in restoring SARS’s effectiveness.
ActionSA believes this continuity is critical at a time when SARS has demonstrated its value to the fiscus, including achieving a historic milestone of collecting more than R2 trillion in revenue. Sustaining and expanding this performance will require consistent leadership, ongoing investment, and a clear focus on closing South Africa’s substantial tax gap.
ActionSA also reiterates its appreciation to outgoing Commissioner Edward Kieswetter for his leadership in rebuilding SARS into a credible and capable institution following the damage inflicted during the years of State Capture. The smooth transition to Mr Makhubu reflects the strength of SARS’s current leadership bench.
While welcoming this appointment, ActionSA emphasises that safeguarding SARS’s independence and operational integrity remains paramount. The Commissioner must be empowered to act without political interference and supported with the necessary resources to enhance revenue collection, combat illicit trade, and improve voluntary compliance.
ActionSA will continue to advocate for sustained investment in SARS as a proven alternative to increasing the tax burden on South Africans. A capable and well-resourced SARS remains central to fiscal sustainability, economic growth, and restoring public trust in the state.