Finance minister says no bad blood with SARS Commissioner Kieswetter
Kieswetter said that the comments he made in January about bolstering the revenue service over raising taxes were deliberately planted at budget time.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter bury the hatchet over a “hot mic” incident last in February 2025. Pictured ahead of the budget tabling in Parliament. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter dismissed suggestions that there's bad blood between them.
Godongwana said that a conversation picked up on a live microphone between him and Treasury Director Duncan Pieterse in Parliament in February, which they and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshwaveni were talking about Kieswetter, was mischievous reporting.
For his part, Kieswetter said that the comments he made in January about bolstering the revenue service over raising taxes were deliberately planted at budget time.
In a successful attempt at delivering the budget on Wednesday, Godongwana raised Value-Added Tax (VAT) by 0.5 percentage points for each of the next two years, while also giving more money to SARS to go after tax evaders.
Since his hot mic gaffe after a press conference in Parliament, Godongwana said that he met with the SARS Commissioner at least three times to clear the air and to debate the issues.
"As far as I am concerned, both of us understand that matter is behind us. We are focusing on the job at hand."
Meanwhile, tax man Kieswetter believes the matter was a classic case of miscommunication.
"My conscience is clear. What I have spoken about is a consistent narrative and in line with the mandate of SARS."
The revenue service will now receive another R7.5 billion rand over the next three years to collect more revenue it believes is due to the state.