Dear Fellow South Africans
I write to you today with immense pride and gratitude. The South African Revenue Service has delivered R2.010 trillion an exceptional revenue performance on behalf of our nation. The figures announced this week represent not just a fiscal milestone, but what a committed institution, serving a resilient people, can achieve.
This success follows seven years of focused revenue recovery after a period marked by eroded governance, traumatised employees, deteriorating public trust, and declining revenue performance. Our extensive rebuilding programme has restored institutional integrity, public trust, and credibility; it has modernised SARS and positioned it for the future. Behind every rand collected stands the dedication of approximately 14 500 women and men of SARS who are committed to service excellence. I owe them a big debt of gratitude.
Throughout this journey, we have been driven by a strong sense of purpose and commitment to integrity. We set out to restore public trust in SARS, and I am proud to say that today we are on a solid foundation and well-prepared for an Artificial Intelligence future. We faced challenges like a global pandemic, natural disasters, disruptive electricity system, weak economic growth, and uncertain geopolitics. Yet, annual net revenue has grown steadily, surpassing R11 trillion cumulatively since 2020, and exceeding R2 trillion for the first time in our history. Tax-to-GDP ratios have averaged around 25.9%, with positive tax buoyancy of 1.70.
This achievement is tangible. Every cent collected with care translates directly into the lives of South Africans: hospitals, schools, social grants, and infrastructure that connects communities. Tax revenue is the bedrock of our social compact, affirming our shared citizenship, values, and protection of the vulnerable. A capable, trusted revenue authority is vital for the wellbeing of our democracy.
Protecting the tax base also safeguards our sovereignty. It shows that South Africa is serious and fair; those who choose non-compliance will face lawful consequences, while honest taxpayers will be treated with respect and dignity. Compliance is not a burden; it is the foundation of national progress.
To every taxpayer and trader who worked hard, earned honestly, and paid what was due: THANK YOU. You are the true heroes of this story. Your sacrifices enable others to live with dignity and believe in a better future. I honour your contributions and am deeply grateful for your trust.
A Personal Word
As I conclude my tenure as Commissioner, a role I assumed in 2019, I am filled with immense gratitude for this unique chapter in my life. Being entrusted with the stewardship of an institution like SARS during such a transformative period has been a profound privilege.
When I arrived in 2019, I found an institution in disarray, with eroded governance, demoralised employees, compromised revenue, and frayed credibility. We undertook a significant effort to restore values, rebuild processes, draw insights from data, and treat every employee as a professional deserving of trust and development. Over the past six years, we have done so, not perfectly but consistently and honestly.
The joy this work has brought me — seeing a tax collector thanked by a citizen, facilitating a cleaning lady’s journey to becoming a Customs Officer, watching a young intern grow in confidence, and hearing from a small business owner who gained access to relief during the pandemic — cannot be measured in financial terms. It’s the joy of knowing that good public service changes lives.
A Final Encouragement
As I leave this office, I encourage all South Africans to exercise your citizenship with integrity. Engage SARS without fear or prejudice. File honestly and voluntarily. Resist the temptation to find shortcuts that diminish the common good. Your tax compliance is not merely a legal obligation; it is essential for our collective progress and wellbeing.
I salute the extraordinary courage and selflessness of the women and men of SARS. I salute South African taxpayers and traders who make this country function. And I salute South Africa itself — a nation whose complexity and beauty has never ceased to amaze and inspire me.
It has been the honour of my professional life to serve you.
With gratitude and deep respect,
Thank you.
