Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for a term of five years, effective from May 1, 2026. This appointment follows a unanimous recommendation by a selection panel convened by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, as per section 6 of the South African Revenue Service Act of 1997.

According to South African Government News Agency, Dr Makhubu currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Engagement and Operations, a role he has held since 2023. He will succeed Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, whose contract concludes on April 30, 2026. Dr Makhubu brings over 17 years of senior leadership experience in both public and private sectors, encompassing tax administration, commercial, finance, and operations management. His experience spans various industries, including fast-moving consumer goods, mining, power generation, and public revenue services.

Dr Makhubu has played a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of SARS since 2020 and has been instrumental in implementing the Vision 2024 strategy alongside the current Commissioner. Under this strategy, SARS achieved a revenue collection increase with a compounded annual growth rate of 7.6%, alongside a rise in voluntary compliance by 3.4 percentage points.

The Presidency conveyed President Ramaphosa’s congratulations to Dr Makhubu on his appointment, emphasizing the importance of SARS in providing the financial resources essential for government operations, infrastructure funding, and social services. President Ramaphosa also acknowledged Commissioner Kieswetter’s leadership, noting his contributions to SARS as a key facilitator of fiscal stability, social delivery, trade facilitation, and investment enablement.

President Ramaphosa highlighted that this leadership transition within SARS exemplifies the effectiveness of sound succession planning in enhancing the state’s capabilities.