Sars refutes allegations about leaks and tenders

The South African
Revenue Service (Sars)
has strongly refuted
media reports that there
were leaks from its office
regarding confidential
information, as well as
allegations that it had
not followed a tender
process correctly.
This follows news
reports last week
claiming that there
were questions around
Sars commissioner Tom
Moyane’s appointment
of two global companies
as consultants in
the creation of the
revenue authority’s
extensive operational
restructuring and
review process.
Sars said in a
statement that its
process of procurement
had been approved
by former Minister
of Finance, Nhlanhla
Nene, and that it
had had “significant
engagements” with
a multitude of
stakeholders, including
independent auditing
bodies, business, Sars
employees and organised
labour.
The revenue authority,
in its statement,
outlined the full tender
process which eventually
led to the appointment
of Gartner Inc to assist
Sars with the IT &
Modernisation Strategy
Review as well as Bain
& Company for the
Operating Model and
Structure Review.
Furthermore, Sars
rejected as “complete
falsehoods” reports
insinuating that
two crucial leaked
documents — one a
KPMG report on the
“rogue” Sars unit and
the other on a legal
opinion that was
reportedly obtained by
Moyane – were leaked by
Moyane or other “Sars
insiders”,
According to media
reports, news was
leaked that Moyane
had sought legal advice
on whether he needed
finance minister Pravin
Gordhan’s approval for
his restructuring plans.
A Sars spokesperson
pointed out that since
Moyane’s appointment
in September 2014,
“major controls and
process have been
instituted” to curb
information leaks from
Sars.
“We reject any
insinuation that
suggests that Sars or the
commissioner has been
leaking confidential
information,” said the
spokesperson.
CAPTION
News reports have insinuated that Sars
commissioner, Tom Moyane, leaked
confidential information to the media.