SARS stalwart Ngobani Makhubu appointed new Commissioner to succeed Edward Kieswetter

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the appointment of Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as the new Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

Makhubu is set to take over from Edward Kieswetter on 1 May, as his contract ends.

The President made the appointment following a unanimous recommendation from a specialised selection panel convened by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

Makhubu has held the position of Deputy Commissioner at SARS since 2023. He holds a PhD in Leadership and a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering and Bachelor of Economics.

The Presidency describes him as a seasoned public and private sector executive with more than 17 years of senior leadership experience spanning tax administration, commercial, finance and operations management.

Outgoing Commissioner Edward Kieswetter welcomed the appointment, saying that the President "could not have tasked a more eminently qualified individual to take over".

He highlighted that it is the culmination of the process of succession-planning in line with the Nugent Commission of Inquiry into administration and governance at SARS.

"The appointment of Dr Makhubu represents continuity and the opportunity to take SARS to a higher level as it deals with new challenges in the highly complex, dynamic, and digital environment."

Stephen Grootes gets comment from Charles de Wet, tax executive at law firm ENSafrica.

As de Wet puts it, the incoming SARS Commissioner has been in the thick of it, and part of the planning to fix the agency in the face of the challenges it was facing.

"I think it is good news that they've taken somebody internally that understands the system, that is an independent thinker and will continue the task of building a great SARS. It will be less disruptive than bringing somebody in from the outside because then we would have seen a significant change."

SARS on Wednesday announced a record R2 TRILLION-plus in net revenue collection for the 2025/26 financial year, with Kieswetter highlighting the work that has gone into compliance initiatives and improved administrative efficiencies.

RELATED: SARS collects record R2 TRILLION in revenue for past financial year

At the same time, he warned that a significant threat to optimal revenue collection remains in terms of the illicit economy thriving in its various forms - just one of the challenges the new Commissioner will be taking on when his term starts in a few weeks.

Scroll up to the audio player to hear more from de Wet about the direction SARS is taking with a new Commissioner at the helm