Senior SARS executive probed for ‘highly unusual’ cash deposits
A new report alleges that SARS chief officer, Jonas Makwakwa, made ‘highly unusual’ cash deposits into his private bank account – causing enough suspicion to warrant investigation.
The report, compiled by a banking regulator, has been handed over to SARS commissioner Tom Moyane, according to the Sunday Times.
According to the report, Makwakwa received up to R1.2-million between 2010 and January this year. Moreover, his partner who is also a SARS employee, received cash deposits amounting to R450,200, the Sunday Times said.
The preliminary report was handed to Moyane in May, and contains bank records for 11 different bank accounts, along with camera footage documenting the alleged suspicious behaviour.
SARS spokesman Sandile Memela declined to comment, the Sunday Times said, while both Makwakwa and his partner said the matter was “sub judice” and also declined to comment.
Investigators reportedly found cash deposits of R785,130 made between 2010 and 2016. The report also highlighted a credit of R147,850.65 on Makwakwa’s account after he exchanged $13,500 in 2014.
The report concluded that the “volume and value of cash deposits are highly unusual” for a permanent employee, and should be investigated “in light of the position of authority held by [Makwakwa]”.
Although the investigation is still at an early stage, the trail of payments appears to have also led investigators to vehicle and property purchases in Makwakwa’s partner’s name.
She is believed to be Makwakwa’s common-law wife and the mother of two of his children, the Sunday Times said.
In particular, investigators raised questions about three large cash deposits – two of R160,000 each and one of R130,200 – that appeared to be inconsistent with the profile of Makwakwa’s partner who is a mid-level employee in SARS’s legal department.
The report also highlighted a sum of R480,000 that was transferred via EFT into Makwakwa’s bank account in three tranches in April and May last year – almost half of which appears to have been used to buy a Mercedes for Elskie.
Read the full article in the 11 September, 2016 edition of the Sunday Times.
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