Solidarity: The only hope now for the tainted SARS
31 October 2019
The South African Revenue Service’s anti-corruption and security unit used to be one of the best in the public service, with several awards to prove its ability and successes. The appointment of Tom Moyane, former commissioner of SARS, however, resulted in a culture of distrust, depression and despondency.
In 2014, without much ado, Moyane dissolved this unit, and its approximately 300 members were transferred to other sections when the unit’s group head, Clifford Collings, was suspended because Moyane was said to be annoyed when his official car was not delivered to him on time.
“Today we are sitting here in the same offices we were in at the time, and it is almost unreal to think one person can be such a drawback for an institution. Tom Moyane came here and destroyed something that was really remarkable, and that was trust and hope in the Revenue Service,” said a senior employee of SARS and member of Solidarity.
“In the bloom of my career I was thrown to the wolves, my family were traumatised and during all of this, Solidarity used to contact me almost every day. In my darkest hour they encouraged me and even advised me to go for a jog, because in the midst of the barrage they viewed my state of mind as equally important as trying to save SARS from itself.”