The appointment – announced late yesterday – of Edward Kieswetter as the new SARS Commissioner, with effect from 1 May, has already run into controversy, with the EFF, strong supporters of axed Commissioner Tom Moyane, threatening legal action.

Kieswetter, a former group chief executive at Alexander Forbes, will serve a term of five years. The decision was informed by the recommendation of the President, the Ministry of Finance said, according to a Fin24 report.

The secrecy around the appointment process has reportedly raised concerns. According to the EFF, it sent a letter and parliamentary questions to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni in February, specifically asking why they are conducting the SARS Commissioner selection process ‘in secret’.

Earlier, the Black Management Forum had expressed concern at what it called a ‘rushed and guarded’ recruitment process.

‘The process for the appointment of the SARS Commissioner is informed by the SARS Act and was guided by the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Tax Administration and Governance by SARS chaired by retired Judge Robert Nugent,’ the Finance Ministry said in its statement.

The independent selection panel was chaired by former Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and included Angela Bester, Dennis Davis, Sindi Mabaso-Koyana, Ismail Momoniat, Thandi Orleyn and Fezekile Tshiqi.

According to the statement, six candidates were short-listed – Nathaniel Mabetwa, Sunita Manik, Edward Kieswetter, Mark Kingon, Gene Ravele and Nazrien Kader.

‘The Minister of Finance submitted the panel’s report and his recommendation to the President on Monday, 25 March 2019. The President has accepted the Minister’s recommendation,’ the statement said.

‘Mr Kieswetter emerged as the strongest candidate, based on his past experience as Deputy Commissioner for SARS between 2004 and 2009, and his subsequent track record of transformative leadership and his experience of turning around a large institution.’

Full Fin24 report