SARS nails officials in corruption swoop – freezing cars, properties and bank accounts
SARS has received a court order against two of its former officials, as part of its efforts to tackle fraud and corruption in government departments.
Via an ex parte application in the Gauteng Division of the High Court, SARS secured preservation orders against two of its former officials who resigned from the organisation in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
The move forms part of the SARS Illicit Economy Strategy, which targets corruption and fraud in government departments as high-priority focus areas.
In addition to meeting the statutory threshold for granting a preservation order under the Tax Administration Act, the tax collector presented prima facie evidence of non-compliance with tax laws.
This included corruption, money laundering, unauthorised work outside SARS, breaches of SARS’s secrecy provisions, and the abuse of state property by the former officials in furtherance of corruption.
The court then appointed a curator bonis to preserve assets and prevent their dissipation while tax assessments are being finalised.
The preservation order placed three immovable properties, six vehicles, and multiple bank and investment accounts held across major financial institutions under curatorship.
The curator has also been authorised by the High Court to inquire into and locate further assets that have been concealed or placed beyond SARS’s reach.
The properties, which are estimated to be worth several million rand in total, cannot be sold or transferred without authorisation until the finalisation of tax assessments.
The curator has also been granted immediate powers to secure, control, manage and, where authorised, dispose of the assets to recover taxes due.
SARS is clamping down
SARS Commissioner-Designate Dr Johnstone Makhubu said corruption within the institution would be dealt with swiftly by adopting the most severe measures permitted by law.
“Corruption by SARS employees, whether former or present, is the worst form of betrayal,” said Makhubu, who will replace Edward Kieswetter on 1 May.
“It undermines public trust, damages the integrity of our systems, and strikes at the heart of the state’s ability to serve its people”.
He added that the preservation order demonstrates SARS’s commitment to act decisively in matters of corruption.
“We are acting early, securing assets, and following the money. Where corruption intersects with tax and customs systems, SARS will intervene swiftly and lawfully,” the incoming commissioner said.
“No one is above the law, especially those entrusted to enforce it.”
SARS’s Illicit Economy Strategy forms part of the national Illicit Economy Disruption Programme as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the State of the Nation Address.
SARS said that employees and citizens have brought criminality to its attention through whistleblowing, and that the group is looking to uncover complex corruption schemes.
The tax collection agency said that further civil, administrative, and criminal processes may follow as investigations progress.
“The days when employees engage in criminality and opt to resign rather than face the consequences of their wrongdoing are over,” said Makhubu.
“Those who think that this method will exculpate them from the consequences of their actions must know that they’ll be pursued and will be found wherever they are.”
SARS told members of the public to protect the integrity of South Africa’s tax and customs systems and report corruption, tax fraud, and related criminal activities via its confidential platform.
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