Mmamathe Makhekhe-Mokhuane Tom Moyane SARS

Mmamathe Makhekhe-Mokhuane at the Nugent Inquiry. (Heidi Giokos / eNCA / Twitter)

SARS: Four potential candidates in the running to replace Tom Moyane

Suspended in March. Fired in October. Told to sling his hook by December. But who will officially replace Tom Moyane as SARS Commissioner?

Mmamathe Makhekhe-Mokhuane Tom Moyane SARS

Mmamathe Makhekhe-Mokhuane at the Nugent Inquiry. (Heidi Giokos / eNCA / Twitter)

Tom Moyane has finally run out of road, after attempts to reclaim his position as SARS commissioner were finally shot down by the North Gauteng High Court. It brings to an end a bitter nine-month legal battle, where the former Zuma ally was defeated at every turn.

First suspended by President Ramaphosa in March, the Nugent Commission then recommended Moyane should be outright fired from the tax firm. Cyril complied a few weeks later before the former commissioner took his grievances to the Constitutional Court.

Tom Moyane legal challenge dismissed with costs

They threw the case out, and his humiliation was completed on Tuesday when the gavel was hammered down for the final time on this matter. The president is now free to choose his replacement, after almost a year of waiting.

According to section 6 (1) of the South African Revenue Service Amendment Act No. 46 of 2002, Ramaphosa can appoint anyone he “sees fit for the post”. The president may also choose to consult with others before making an appointment. But who’s on his shortlist? We’re looking at a few of the names already doing the rounds.

Who could replace Tom Moyane at SARS? 

Mark Kingon

Mark Kingon
(ENCA / Screenshot)

Kingon is an absolute stalwart of SARS. He’s given the organisation three decades of his working life, and he’s highly-respected by Cyril Ramaphosa. In the last nine months, he has steadied the ship as acting commissioner, and impressed with his no-nonsense approach and brutal honesty about the firm he has served so diligently over the years.

Mondli Gungubele

(Picture: Neil McCartney)

He’s currently serving as the deputy finance minister, and acts as Tito Mboweni’s right-hand man. The transition from Treasury to tax would not be a huge stretch. He has his Bcom in Law, he once served as the Ekurhuleni mayor, and Gungubele has previously headed the Economic Affairs Portfolio Committee in the Gauteng provincial legislature (2004-2007).

But something else that’s endeared him to the South African public is his staunch anti-Zuma stance. Gungubele was canvassing for ANC MPs to oust Msholozi during his 2017 vote of no confidence. He was one of the most outspoken members in this regard, and it bears well for a role which requires a zero-tolerance approach to corruption.

Hlengani Mathebula

(SARS)

Mathebula is a seriously clued-up geezer. We’re talking business degrees from UoN, Wits, Stellenbosch, and a little-known institution called Harvard. Prior to joining SARS, Hlengani was the Group Head of Strategy and Communications at the South African Reserve Bank. 

In terms of qualifications, he’s arguably the best man for the job. He’s served on several executive committees for SARB and the 51-year-old is the type of wise, well-studied figure needed to lead the tax giants after the reign of Tom Moyane.

Mmamathe Makhekhe-Mokhuane 

Mmamathe Makhekhe-Mokhuane SARS e-filing
Mmamathe Makhekhe-Mokhuane appeared on SABC 2 on Wednesday 17 October 2018 (SABC / Twitter screenshot)

Not just famous for a bad interview, but THE defining bad interview. Triple M went viral back in October, as her car-crash exchange with SABC – complemented by her rambling appearance at the Nugent Commission – made her an unwitting household name.

However, you may think we’re being tongue-in-cheek with this one. What’s a Tom Moyane story without a good laugh, right? But Makhekhe-Mokhuane is actually pretty high up in the SARS structures of power.

She’s one of their Chief Officers and acts as the person in charge of digital information services and technology. We may all need “protection from herself” if Ramaphosa ends up giving her the gig.