Att: The Editor – Business Report
E-MAIL:   ‘ellis.mnyandu@inl.co.za’

YOUR EDITION FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER 2014

One would think that the Saouth African Revenue Service and its lawyers would at least get a simple suspension process correct.  The Labour Relations Act and the internal Disciplinary Code of SARS are quite clear and succinct.  An employee must first be confronted with a possible suspension and that employee must be allowed to have his or her say.  After taking into account the facts of the matter and taking into account whether a suspension is necessary then an independent person can make a decision as to whether the suspension will go ahead.  In this case SARS had a predetermined decision to suspend regardless of what the two senior employees had to say.  It is shocking to say the least.

It appears that SARS is being controlled by and external pocket master as they have suspended employees in the past and have got the procedure correct.  Maybe Commissioner Moyane can share with the South African public why he made such a monumental mess and why the Court saw fit to not only overturn his decision but also to force him to pay punitive legal costs.

MICHAEL BAGRAIM

19 December 2014