The South African Revenue Service has marked Workers’ Day by paying tribute to the country’s workforce while welcoming Dr Johnstone Makhubu as its new Commissioner.
Makhubu has begun his term with a commitment to strengthen fairness, trust and institutional integrity at the revenue authority.
In his first official statement, the new Commissioner said his appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa, on the recommendation of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, carried significant responsibility at a time when South Africa depends heavily on an effective and trusted revenue authority.
He described Workers’ Day as a reminder that the country’s economy is built on the labour, resilience and sacrifice of its working people.
“Workers are the bedrock of our economy. Their effort sustains everything we do as a country,” Makhubu said, adding that SARS exists to transform that effort into public value through revenue collection that supports schools, infrastructure and economic opportunity.
The Commissioner said his leadership approach would be grounded in stewardship rather than authority.
“Leadership at SARS is not about power; it is about trust. That trust must be earned daily through fairness, consistency and humility in how we apply the law,” he said.
Makhubu said SARS operates at the centre of South Africa’s social and economic contract, with a mandate to secure revenue, strengthen compliance and safeguard the integrity of the tax system.
He paid tribute to the institution’s recent history of recovery and reform, crediting former Commissioner Edward Kieswetter for restoring institutional stability and rebuilding public confidence after a turbulent period in the organisation’s past.
A central feature of Makhubu’s agenda is an internal reform drive named “Doing Basics Right”, which focuses on strengthening core operational performance. The aim is to build a system where compliance becomes simpler and more intuitive.
The Commissioner reaffirmed SARS’s commitment to tackling the country’s growing illicit economy, which continues to erode the tax base and distort legitimate competition.
“SARS has developed its own Illicit Economy Strategy that will complement national efforts. The scale of the challenge is significant, and it demands coordinated and decisive action,” he said.
Another key pillar of his strategy is Modernisation 3.0, an expansion of SARS’s digital transformation agenda. The programme will deepen the use of data analytics, automation and digital platforms to improve service delivery and compliance monitoring.
However, Makhubu said technology alone would not be sufficient.
“Modern systems must be matched with strong human capability. We will continue to invest in skills, training and professional excellence to ensure SARS remains at the forefront of tax administration globally,” he said.
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He said compliant taxpayers would be treated with clarity, respect and professionalism, with systems designed to reduce friction and make compliance easier.
At the same time, he issued a warning to those who deliberately evade tax obligations.
“Those who choose not to comply, who abuse the system or undermine it for personal gain, should expect decisive enforcement action. A tax system only works when everyone contributes fairly,” Makhubu said.
SARS said it remains committed to strengthening service delivery, improving compliance systems and safeguarding South Africa’s revenue base as it enters a new phase of institutional leadership and reform.
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