Question NW563 to the Minister of Finance
30 August 2016 - NW563
Maynier, Mr D to ask the Minister of Finance
(1)Whether the SA Revenue Services (SARS) Advisory Board has (a) examined and commented on any policy and/or (b) investigated, evaluated and advised on any (i) practice and (ii) decision of the (aa) SARS or (bb) the SARS Commissioner, and/or (c) received a report on any matter from the SARS Commissioner; if not, why not, in each specified case; if so, what are the relevant details in each specified case; (2) whether the SARS Advisory Board has produced any reports in this regard; if not, why not; if so, in respect of each specified report, (a) what is the title of the report and (b) on what date was the report finalised?
Reply:
I was informed by the South African Revenue Service (SARS):
- (a)(b)(i)(ii)(aa)(bb) That the SARS Advisory Board (SAB) had an occasion to consider, inter alia, the following issues:
- SARS Strategic IT Assessment (Consultants on this issue were Gartner Ltd);
- SARS Operating Model (Consultants on this issue were Bain Consulting); and
- The related issue of Communications & Engagement Stream Overview;
- The alleged SARS Intelligence Unit;
- KPMG Report (forensic investigation into the affairs of SARS);
- The investigative powers of SARS;
- Disciplinary proceedings instituted by SARS and subsequent settlements reached;
- Border Management Agency Bill;
- Internal SARS Security;
- Minutes of the Joint meeting with the Davis Tax Committee.
(c) The Board received a number of verbal reports on relevant matters from the Commissioner of SARS at a number of its meetings.
2. I am informed by SARS that:
(a) The SARS Advisory Board produced and submitted untitled reports to the previous Minister of Finance and the Commissioner of SARS regarding its activities to date, and included copies of the minutes of the meetings that had been held. The minutes of subsequent meetings were submitted to the previous Minister of Finance and the Commissioner. Various emails were sent directly to the previous Minister of Finance from time to time dealing with other aspects considered by the SAB.
(b) 30 June 2015
I cannot vouch for any of the above.