Moyane demands respect from Gordhan

24 February 2017 - 16:50 By Shenaaz Jamal
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From left, Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, Treasury Director-General Lungisa Fuzile, Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan and SARS commissioner Tom Moyane in Pretoria
From left, Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, Treasury Director-General Lungisa Fuzile, Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan and SARS commissioner Tom Moyane in Pretoria
Image: IHSAAN HAFFEJEE

SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane has asked Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan for "cordiality and respect" as the relationship between the Treasury and revenue collection arm becomes increasingly frosty.

Responding to a Mail & Guardian article‚ Moyane called an urgent press conference on Friday at Sars offices in Pretoria.

The news report had highlighted Moyane’s degenerating relationship with Gordhan. Moyane and Gordhan have been at loggerheads for months and Moyane has turned to President Jacob Zuma to intervene‚ the newspaper reported.

  • READ IN FULL: 'My relationship with Gordhan has not been cordial' - Tom MoyaneThe icy relationship between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and South African Revenue Service commissioner Tom Moyane has been confirmed by Moyane himself at a public news conference and statement on Friday - to the point that he asked President Jacob Zuma to appoint a mediator. 

This week commentators noted that Gordhan failed to thank Moyane in his budget speech - in which he noted a tax collection shortfall of R30‚4 billion. In turn‚ Moyane was not by Gordhan’s side when the minister and deputy minister of finance (Mcebisi Jonas)‚ as well as the South African Reserve Bank’s Lesetja Kganyago when Gordhan addressed the media on the budget.

Gordhan has appeared to question Moyane’s stewardship of Sars‚ which Gordhan previously ran as commissioner.

During the press conference‚ Moyane confirmed the breakdown in their relationship. "In meetings he treats me like I'm not an entity and he shouts and screams.

  • What have I ever done to you that you treat me like a little boy - Moyane to GordhanThe icy relationship between Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and South African Revenue Service commissioner Tom Moyane has been confirmed in 16 confidential letters‚ according to a report on Friday. 

"After all the humiliation screaming and shouting I think it's about time the president intervened‚" he said.

"I can't work under conditions where I'm treated like a non-entity. What the minister does is not something I would wish on anybody‚" Moyane said.

Moyane denied any management challenges in Sars. "I have earned my stripes in different areas and my team has too‚ therefore to refer to us as an entity without leadership is dim‚" he said.

  • Budget 2017: Rich to bear the brunt of the tax increasesThe wealthiest South Africans will pick up the tab for the South African Revenue Service's inability to outstrip economic growth in revenue collection. 

Moyane said his relationship with Gordhan was strained on a professional level‚ alleging that Gordhan interfered in Sars operations.

Moyane said the State Security Agency had investigated the source of the leaked letters and found that it did not come from Sars. "The minister should explain or investigate the leakage from his office."

Moyane also said the relationship between the two could not be resolved due to "personality cults".

Moyane said a better working relationship between himself and the Gordhan would bring sanity to both institutions.

"My ego doesn't make others feel small and I won't allow anyone to make me feel small."

He also took a swipe at Gordhan over his budget snub‚ saying: "Don't be economic with thank you".

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