Inquiry rejects Tom Moyane's bid to halt SARS probe

Suspended South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner Tom Moyane now wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to either halt his disciplinary hearing or abandon the commission of inquiry into governance at the tax agency.

This was after retired Judge Robert Nugent dismissed Moyane’s request to halt the commission of inquiry into governance at SARS‚ describing the embattled commissioner’s submission to him as “disgraceful”‚ “loose with facts” and “littered with abuse‚ invective and sinister suggestions”.

Moyane’s attorney Eric Mabuza denies Moyane has adopted delaying tactics‚ saying Moyane is simply protecting his rights.

A permanent SARS commissioner can only be appointed once Moyane’s disciplinary hearing has been finalised‚ and it will be difficult to stabilise the institution until that process has been concluded.

In a scathing ruling, Nugent refused all the relief sought by the suspended commissioner.

Moyane’s counsel Dali Mpofu asked the commission on Friday to halt the inquiry pending the outcome of the disciplinary process; to “expunge” all the evidence heard by the commission during its first sitting last week; to provide an undertaking that the commission will not hear evidence related to Moyane’s disciplinary process; and for SARS to provide legal assistance to Moyane when he appears before the commission.

Nugent said the commission had no power in law to “dissolve itself”, as it was established by the president.

• Full report in BusinessLIVE