All the president's men

Former SARS chief to confront Pravin Gordhan about efforts to derail probe

FORMER COMMISSIONER OF THE South African Revenue Ser-vice, Tom Moyane, is preparing to confront Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan with allegations that government ministers, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, attempted to derail investigations and prosecutions concerning the so-called rogue unit at SARS.

Gordhan is likely to face some tough questions [to which we too would like to know the answers – Ed.] when Moyane’s lawyers cross-examine the minister at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. His appearance set down for March 19. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo gave the go-ahead for the grilling last November, although his ruling has come with a caveat – questions must relate to allegations made against Moyane.

Moyane is likely to get a rough ride too. Then president Jacob Zuma appointed him to the commissioner’s seat at SARS in 2014. A long-time Zuma ally, Moyane came with no other more obvious qualifications that might have fitted him for the taxing job. He will forever be remembered for his tempestuous four-year reign, notably for bringing in Boston-based consulting firm Bain & Company for a ruinous R204-million reworking of the tax collector’s operating model and structure.

Retired judge Frank Nugent (who called for Moyane’s dismissal in his Nugent Commission report) and Ramaphosa (who fired Moyane in November 2018) are two of Moyan e’s particular targets. His forthcoming cross-examination of Pravin Gordhan at the Zondo Commission promises to be a fiery face-off.