On 27 October fin24.com reported that members of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Finance had expressed concern over a potential lack of oversight of the South African Revenue Service (Sars) due to the late filing of its financial report.
The delay relates to a dispute with the auditor-general (AG) on the interpretation of the Sars Act relating to the finance minister approving the terms and conditions of employment for Sars managers. According to The Daily Maverick's investigative unit, Scorpio, the AG had given the Sars Commissioner an ultimatum to declare controversial bonus payments to his executive committee as irregular expenditure, or it would receive a qualified audit opinion. It is understood that Sars never received a qualified audit.
Sars accordingly indicated that it would not be able to present its annual report to Parliament at the end of November.
Sars also has not published its Strategic Plan 2017/2018-2021/2022.