President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended Edward Kieswetter’s term as South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner for an additional two years.
The decision comes after an agreement between President Ramaphosa and Kieswetter to facilitate a smooth leadership transition within the organization.
Kieswetter, who was appointed in March 2019, began his five-year term in May of the same year.
According to the presidency, Kieswetter will continue to lead the execution of SARS’ current strategic direction while ensuring an orderly transition.
This decision follows discussions earlier in February between the president and Kieswetter regarding an orderly transition.
In June last year, Kieswetter appointed three deputy commissioners as recommended by the Nugent Commission in 2018, which investigated state capture at SARS. These appointments were aimed at setting the stage for succession. However, none of the deputy commissioners would have served a year in their roles by the end of April, prompting calls for a longer transition period due to the complexity and demands of the position.