Pravin Gordhan laid the foundation at SARS, says Kieswetter

JOHANNESBURG - South African Revenue Services (SARS) Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter says at the cornerstone of Pravin Gordhan’s legacy will be his contribution towards establishing the revenue service.

Gordhan died on Friday morning after battling cancer.

READ: Former Minister Pravin Gordhan dies aged 75

He was appointed deputy commissioner in 1998 and ascended to commissioner the following year.

Gordan spent a decade at the helm.

Kieswetter has remembered the former commissioner for his work in developing systems at SARS. 

“Pravin must be acknowledged as the leader of SARS who laid the foundation for taking a largely inwardly focused and administratively-oriented former department in government and creating and establishing the foundations of a modern tax and customs administration.”

READ: He had no regrets: Politicians, civil society pay tribute to Pravin Gordhan 

Kieswetter said working with Gordhan was a privilege.

“There was no doubt that at the helm he was a thought leader. He took the SARS Act and gave it life and it was an absolute privilege and a huge learning experience for me to have had the opportunity to work with him during that time and before he left as one of his deputy commissioners.”