SARS takes urgent action to terminate LTC contract

20 October 2016 - 17:55 By Tmg Digital
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The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced that it has instituted urgent proceedings at the High Court to immediately terminate the contract between SARS and the Lekgotla Trifecta Consortium (LTC).

This is to properly comply with the obligation the law imposes on organs of state to pro-actively raise and resolve procurement irregularities‚ it said.

“SARS issued a media statement on the 14 October 2016 to communicate its intention to approach the High Court with the aim to declare the contract between SARS and LTC invalid should the parties fail to do so amicably.

“This follows LTC’s failure to declare the potential conflict of interest between its director Mr Nhlamulo Ndlhela and SARS Commissioner Mr Tom Moyane as this constitutes material irregularity and breach in the award of the tender‚” SARS said.

“This court proceeding is intended to interdict LTC from any further steps to implement the Master Service Agreement and any and all Service Request agreements concluded between SARS and LTC‚” SARS added.

It said it was SARS’ position that TLC’s failure to disclose the familial relationship between its shareholder Mr Ndlhela and the Commissioner constituted a material breach and irregularity in the award of the tender.

“This action must be seen and understood from SARS uncompromising and beyond reproach manner in keeping with its Constitutional and statutory duty to maintain a high standard of professional ethics‚ accountability and transparency in its administration as well as the prevention of possible irregular expenditure and prejudice to the financial interest of the State.

“As the matter is now the subject of legal proceedings‚ and out of respect to the pending judicial process‚ SARS does not intend making any further comment on the merits or demerits of the matter‚” SARS said.

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