South Africa’s former president, Jacob Zuma, has faulted the sacking of the head of the South Africa Revenue Service (SARS), Tom Moyane, by President Cyril Ramaphosa , saying the latter’s decision was uncalled for.
Ramaphosa had this month sacked the SARS’ boss after a judicial inquiry recommended his removal to ensure that the reputation of the once respected tax authority is not rubbished.
Moyane has gone to court to challenge his sacking.
However, Zuma, in an affidavit backing the application said that the inquiry that recommended that Moyane should be sacked had overstepped its mandate.
Specifically, he alleged that the investigation “has deviated (from) its originally intended purpose,” Zuma said in the document lodged with the Constitutional Court.
In his reaction, Ramaphosa said that he removed Moyane as head of the SARS “to forestall any further deterioration of our tax administration system”.
Before Moyane’s removal, the South African President noted that the investigation had painted “a deeply concerning picture of the current state of SARS and the reckless mismanagement which characterised your tenure.”
Despite the bitter disagreement between the two political leaders, available reports indicated that both have tried to suppress their grouse over Moyane’s sack as their rival factions battle for the control of the ruling ANC party preparatory to 2019 general election.
