SARS spends more than R23m on investigation of ‘rogue unit’ by KPMG

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) spent more than R23m on a KPMG investigation into an alleged "rogue unit" at the authority, and the report was issued with a disclaimer that it could not be used to settle any dispute or controversy.

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan replied to a written question in Parliament by EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, who had asked the minister how much the KPMG probe had cost the tax agency, whether an open tender process was used for appointment of the audit firm and what the terms of reference of the probe were.

The contentious KPMG report was among the issues that arose between SARS commissioner Tom Moyane and Gordhan, after it was leaked to the Sunday Times late last year.

Gordhan at the time questioned the audit firm’s findings, which said that while it could not find evidence that he was aware of the unit, as accounting officer, he "ought to have known" about it. Gordhan said KPMG had never interviewed him, nor had it asked him for his input in their investigation.

Read the full story at BDlive