1 May 2026 — The South African Revenue Service (SARS) marks Workers’ Day by expressing gratitude to the workers who drive the country’s economy and whose taxes sustain public services. This is the organisation’s message as the new Commissioner, Dr Johnstone Makhubu, assumes office on his first day in this role, mindful of the heavy responsibility entrusted to him and the institution by all South Africans.
Commissioner Makhubu expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana, for entrusting him with the stewardship of this treasured national institution. Auspiciously, this occasion coincides with the first of May, Workers’ Day.
Commissioner Makhubu salutes workers by acknowledging that they are the bedrock of our country’s economy, which benefits from their skills, sacrifice and persistence. “SARS’s mission seeks to augment these efforts through the collection of revenue that turns workers’ effort into public good, wages into schools, productivity into infrastructure and enterprise into opportunity,” he said.
“Today is not significant merely because I am taking up new responsibilities. Workers’ Day reminds us that the strength of South Africa rests on ordinary people doing honest work, often under difficult conditions. As SARS, we will continue to honour that work by acting fairly, competently and with humility.” Dr Makhubu stresses that he takes up his new role with great respect and a clear understanding that leadership at SARS is not about authority, but stewardship.
SARS operates at the centre of the country’s social and economic contract and is entrusted by the President and the Minister of Finance to secure the state’s revenue base, strengthen compliance, enable development and protect the integrity of the tax system in an increasingly complex world. Commissioner Makhubu says that he accepted the responsibility without illusion about the task ahead.
“SARS carries one of the most serious responsibilities in the state and the trust placed in us must be protected every day, in every interaction and in every decision we take.”
He adds that SARS enters this new phase of its leadership as a world‑class revenue authority, recognised and respected globally for its institutional recovery, innovation and proven results. This reputation was earned through the discipline and hard work of its people over many years.
“In honour of workers, and particularly workers whose blood and sweat fuel our nation, our commitment now is not simply to defend SARS’s good standing, but to strengthen it. We are globally admired not by chance, but by our choices to act with integrity, apply the law evenly and to improve without losing our moral centre. That discipline will continue,” adds Commissioner Makhubu.
SARS has benefitted immensely from the exceptional leadership of former Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, who was instrumental over the past seven years in reimagining SARS from the ugliest period of state capture into a glorious national asset. Commissioner Makhubu said that “continuity remains central to the work ahead”, with the institution’s strategic direction remaining clear and unchanged. “We will continue to provide clarity while making compliance simpler, service more accessible, and enforcement more consistent, while collecting all tax that is due, not a cent more, not a cent less”.
To support this commitment, the Commissioner is prioritising a SARS initiative called Doing Basics Right. This focus on perfecting SARS’s core activities in service of the organisation’s envisioned future state, in which the best service is no service, and tax just happens.
The country faces the major challenge posed by the illicit economy, which deprives the fiscus of its fair share, harms legitimate businesses, causes job losses, and undermines fair competition. President Ramaphosa has provided clear leadership in the government’s mission to disrupt and dismantle the illicit economy, which has reached a staggering, unacceptable level. SARS has designed its own Illicit Economy Strategy that will complement the national strategy and forge an even closer cooperation with the national law enforcement agencies.
Commissioner Makhubu has also identified Modernisation 3.0 as the linchpin of SARS’s strategy. SARS will continue to invest heavily in modern technology, keeping the organisation at the forefront of data‑driven administration, digital service delivery, and intelligent compliance systems. Modernisation 3.0 will be supplemented by human capability, as SARS remains committed to attracting skilled professionals, deepening institutional knowledge, and providing continuous training that keeps pace with legal, economic and technological change.
“Our message to taxpayers is unambiguous. SARS will treat those who comply with professionalism, clarity and respect. Systems will be designed to make compliance easier, not harder, and engagement will be guided by transparency, not suspicion”.
He also warned those who intended not to comply with tax law. “Those who evade tax, abuse the system, or engage in deliberate and wilful non‑compliance should expect decisive action. A tax system only works when everyone carries their share, and no one is allowed to undermine it at the expense of others.”
Commissioner Makhubu said Workers’ Day reminds us that institutions exist to serve people, not the other way around, and that the day “marks a new chapter that speaks of continuity strengthened by experience and guided by a well-functioning moral compass”.
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