The Democratic Alliance has called for the immediate suspension of top South African Revenue Service (Sars) figure Jonas Makwakwa, allegedly the recipient of “suspicious and unusual payments”.
The Sunday Times reported that Makwakwa, who is chief officer of business, individual taxes and digital information systems, had allegedly received nearly R1,2m between 2010 and 2016.
DA shadow finance minister David Maynier said Sars head Tom Moyane was being “evasive” in his handling of the matter.
“These allegations are not new and were raised with Moyane during a standing committee on finance meeting on 23 August 2016.
“When questioned about the investigation, Moyane was evasive and simply stated that he would not comment on current ongoing investigations,” Maynier said in a statement.
“The burning questions are whether Moyane acted on the recommendations of the preliminary report and requested an investigation into the allegations surrounding ‘suspicious and unusual payments’, and if an investigation is being conducted, why Makwakwa has not suspended?”
Maynier said he would pursue the issue and submit further parliamentary questions to finance minister Pravin Gordhan.