24 July 2026 – This week, the South African Revenue Service (SARS), represented by Commissioner Dr Johnstone Makhubu in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), participated in a series of strategic engagements in Banjul, The Gambia. Commissioner Makhubu assumed the role of ATAF Chairperson on 1 May 2026. This role carries responsibility for helping guide the strategic direction of Africa’s leading platform for tax cooperation, knowledge exchange and domestic resource mobilisation.
ATAF is Africa’s leading platform for cooperation amongst tax administrations, supporting member countries through capacity building, technical assistance, peer learning, research, knowledge sharing and engagement on regional and international tax matters. Through its work, ATAF contributes to strengthening tax systems, improving domestic resource mobilisation and enhancing Africa’s voice within the global tax ecosystem. ATAF is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, reflecting South Africa’s longstanding contribution to continental tax cooperation and institution-building.
A key highlight of the week was the 7th ATAF Heads of Tax Administrations Master Class, hosted under the theme “Leading for Greatness: Shaping High-Performance Tax Administrations.” The Master Class brought together Commissioners-General and Heads of Tax Administrations from across Africa to exchange experiences, strengthen leadership capability, and explore how tax administrations can continue supporting sustainable domestic revenue mobilisation and development across the continent.
As ATAF Chairperson, Commissioner Makhubu led discussions focused on steward leadership, institutional excellence, domestic resource mobilisation and Africa’s development future. A recurring message throughout the engagements was that strong leadership enables strong institutions, and strong institutions are fundamental to effective domestic resource mobilisation, economic sovereignty and sustainable development.
Reflections from the discussions emphasized the dominant theme as: Steward Leadership → Strong Institutions → High-Performing Tax Administrations → Effective Domestic Resource Mobilisation → Economic Sovereignty → Sustainable Development → Improved Lives for African Citizens.
At the heart of ATAF lies a deeply African principle, Ubuntu. Ubuntu reminds us that “I am because we are” and that our individual success is inseparable from our collective progress. In many ways, ATAF represents Ubuntu in action: bringing together Commissioners-General and tax leaders from across the continent to learn from one another, support one another and strengthen one another. As custodians of domestic resource mobilisation, African tax and customs administrations play a critical role in financing development, strengthening economic sovereignty and improving the lives of Africa’s citizens. This responsibility calls for steward leadership — leadership that places service before self, institutions before individuals and long-term public value before short-term gain. Reflecting on this responsibility, Commissioner Makhubu emphasised that: “Leadership is Africa’s greatest renewable resource. When we strengthen leadership, we strengthen institutions; when we strengthen institutions, we strengthen domestic resource mobilisation; and when we strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, we strengthen Africa.”
Beyond the multilateral programme, Commissioner Makhubu also engaged bilaterally with fellow Commissioners-General and revenue leaders from across Africa on matters of mutual interest relating to tax and customs administration. These engagements focused on opportunities for collaboration, institutional modernisation, digital transformation, compliance enhancement, customs effectiveness, revenue administration and shared responses to emerging challenges facing revenue authorities across the continent. They reinforced the value of cooperation, peer learning and collective problem-solving in strengthening African institutions and advancing the domestic resource mobilisation agenda.
As Africa continues to navigate a rapidly changing fiscal and economic environment, partnerships through institutions such as ATAF remain essential in strengthening tax ecosystems, advancing domestic resource mobilisation and supporting governments in financing development priorities. ATAF itself stands as a significant example of how African cooperation can translate shared knowledge, leadership and experience into practical solutions that benefit the continent and its people.
