Pretoria - The Ministry of Finance on Thursday welcomed the announcement that two officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) have agreed to part ways.
“The Ministry of Finance welcomes the announcement that the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Mr Ivan Pillay (former Deputy Commissioner) and Peter Richer (former Group Executive for Strategy and Planning) have agreed to part ways. The Ministry would like to commend all parties for successfully reaching this agreement,” said the Ministry.
This after the revenue service announcement earlier today that Pillay and Richer have resigned with immediate effect.
The revenue service further added that it has accepted their resignations and that the move is mutually beneficial.
“It is the Ministry’s view that the parting of ways is in the mutual interest of both SARS [and] the parties. As a result of this agreement, all pending disciplinary actions and investigations that were initiated by SARS against Mr Pillay and Mr Richer will be withdrawn,” said the Ministry.
According to the Ministry, this agreement will end the public speculation that has dominated media reports about the developments at SARS in the past few months.
“These unfortunate reports have been unhelpful and threatened to take focus away from the work that SARS has been doing. The success of SARS in meeting its mandate of collecting revenue over the years has been a crucial block in building a sound fiscus which has enabled South Africa to increase the depth and breadth of public services. It is crucial that this fiscal institution be stable, effective and efficient and conducts its work without fear or favour.”
It is for this reason that the Minister of Finance appointed the advisory committee chaired by retired Judge Frank Kroon to advise him and the SARS Commissioner on a number of strategic and governance matters relating to SARS with the view to maintain the strength of the institution. - SAnews.gov.za
