3 July 2024 — The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr. Edward Kieswetter, warmly welcomes the reappointment of Mr. Enoch Godongwana, as the Minister of Finance and Dr David Masondo as the Deputy Minister of Finance, as well as the appointment of Mr. Ashor Sarupen as the second Deputy Minister of Finance.
The Commissioner also extended congratulatory wishes to the members of the newly appointed Ministers and Deputy Ministers, expressing optimism that this is a defining moment in the history of our democracy.
Commissioner Kieswetter expressed his confidence that, under the stewardship of Minister Godongwana, the country will continue the path of sustainable financial consolidation that will set the South African economy on a growth trajectory. The role of the two Deputy Ministers, working closely with the Minister to move the country’s financial growth from static to active to address the country’s socioeconomic challenges, especially the high levels of unemployment, will be equally important. Financial stability will be necessary and sufficient condition for the achievement of growth. Pursuant to the goal of financial stability is the sustenance of the country’s financial sovereignty by collecting all revenue due to government. SARS remain committed to support in this transformative work.
As a country, we are celebrating 30 years since the historic democratic elections of April 1994. The enactment of the SARS Act, 1997 (Act 34 of 1997), which established SARS, is hailed as one of the developments that laid the foundation for South Africa’s prudent and sustainable fiscal policy trajectory, as it brought about the unprecedented improvement in tax revenue collection.
Over the past 30 years, tax collections increased from R113.8 billion in 1994/95 to R1 740.9 billion in 2023/24, at a compounded annual growth rate of 9.9% and an average tax-to-GDP ratio of 22.2%. Since 1997, SARS has collected over R21.2 trillion for the country’s social and economic development. SARS is on course to further improve its revenue performance in alignment with its strategic agenda as confirmed by the Executive Committee’ strategic review session that was held in May 2024 and at the National Management Forum that was held in June 2024, to pursue the Strategic Intent of Voluntary Compliance in the next five years.
SARS is continuing to pursue a Higher Purpose and embarking on the next phase of its journey towards rebuilding itself. This is a journey of a reimagined SARS that is “a SMART modern SARS with unquestionable integrity, that is trusted and admired”. The journey is underpinned by the endeavour to increase revenue through the synthesis of data-driven insights, artificial intelligence, and technology infrastructure. This will help to provide clarity and certainty and make it easy and seamless for taxpayers to transact with SARS, as well as detect and deter fraud. It will also improve services to taxpayers, in line with SARS’s motto of “The best service is no service at all”.
This will be achieved with SARS’s effective and beneficial partnerships with all stakeholders in the tax ecosystem that deliver maximum benefits for taxpayers and traders, government, and the public. SARS will leverage on the strengths of others to resolve tax administration challenges and improve voluntary tax compliance.
The organisation is looking forward to a cordial working relationship with the finance team, under the inspired leadership of the Minister to fulfil its mandate.
For further information, please contact SARS at [email protected].
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