Press Room

South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT), Acting Deputy Chief Executive Keitumetse Sesana has welcomed the appointment of the new SARS Commissioner, expressing confidence that his extensive experience, institutional knowledge, and active engagement with the Recognised Controlling Body (RCB) and taxpayers place him in a strong position to lead the organisation effectively; SAIT believes this background reflects a solid understanding of the broader tax ecosystem and supports continued progress within SARS, and the Institute has further affirmed its support for the appointment while looking forward to ongoing constructive engagement with the revenue authority.

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Kieswetter’s replacement gets the thumbs up

The South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT) has welcomed the appointment of Dr Johnstone Makhubu as the next Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

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Keith Engel, CEO of the South African Institute of Taxation (SAIT), said Makhubu is well known to the tax community through his regular engagement with professional bodies and stakeholders. Prof Engel is confident that Makhubu is “an optimal choice for taking the country forward”. SAIT is the largest controlling organisation for registered tax practitioners in the country.

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The tax fraternity welcomes the new SARS boss, Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu, whose appointment has been widely viewed as a continuation of strong institutional leadership at the revenue authority. His selection as Commissioner-designate signals both stability and confidence in SARS’ ongoing reform and modernisation agenda.

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Following the announcement of the appointment of the new SARS Commissioner, SAIT Acting Deputy CEO Keitumetse Sesana joined Stephen Grootes yesterday to reflect on the significance of this leadership transition and what this means for SARS and taxpayers at large.

Having worked closely with the Commissioner across a number of engagements, Acting Deputy CEO welcomes the appointment and believes his experience, institutional knowledge, and active engagement with the RCB and taxpayers place him in good stead for the role.

With an impressive track record and a clear understanding of the tax ecosystem, we are confident that this appointment will support continued progress at SARS.

SAIT stands behind this appointment and looks forward to continued constructive engagement going forward.

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Business groups and fuel industry representatives have called on government to consider temporary fuel tax relief as rising tensions in the Middle East push up global oil prices. They warn that higher fuel costs could worsen inflation and place additional pressure on households and businesses, arguing that short-term relief could help cushion the economic impact.

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The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has cautioned South Africans working in specific offshore roles to ensure full tax compliance. The warning applies to yacht crew, cruise ship staff, commercial divers, riggers, and other seafarers working internationally. SARS emphasised that holding a foreign or international crew visa does not automatically exempt individuals from South African tax obligations. Tax liability is determined primarily by tax residency status and whether specific exemptions apply, such as the seafarer or foreign employment exemption. Failure to comply can result in penalties and unexpected tax liabilities

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Sun International has urged government to adopt a measured approach to proposed gambling tax increases, warning that excessive taxation could undermine South Africa’s regulated betting industry. The group’s CEO said poorly designed taxes risk driving players to unregulated offshore platforms, reducing consumer protection and weakening long-term tax revenue.

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SARS has stepped up its revenue collection efforts by directly contacting taxpayers via WhatsApp as part of its broader digital modernisation strategy. This marks a shift away from relying solely on letters and emails, with SARS engaging taxpayers on platforms they use daily to ensure important tax notifications are not missed.

According to tax experts, WhatsApp messages from SARS may relate to outstanding tax debt and should not be ignored, as they can follow formal letters of final demand and may precede enforcement or debt‑collection measures. SARS has confirmed that this approach aligns with its 2025–2030 strategic plan to modernise systems and strengthen compliance through technology-driven engagement.

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National Treasury is considering allowing restricted emergency access to pension funds that are currently preserved until retirement, under very strict financial distress conditions. The proposal follows calls to refine South Africa’s two‑pot retirement system, introduced in 2024, which allows limited annual access to a savings portion while keeping the bulk of retirement funds locked away. Treasury officials have stressed that any reforms would be carefully controlled, with discussions expected to begin later this year, amid growing financial pressure on households and retirees.

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As South Africa anticipates the tabling of the 2026 National Budget Speech, Smile FM’s latest coverage highlights a wide range of expectations from political parties, business groups and tax experts. Their perspectives underscore the same pressures SAIT has been tracking: rising debt‑service costs, sluggish growth and mounting calls for targeted tax relief.

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The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is tightening its enforcement net as it prepares to implement new global reporting standards for digital and cross‑border wealth from 1 March 2026. These developments reflect a significant and inevitable evolution in global tax transparency, one that underscores the growing importance of proactive, well‑informed compliance.

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SAIT has welcomed a recent court judgment, noting that it reinforces fair tax administration and underscores the importance of evidence‑based decision‑making within the tax system. The ruling is seen as a positive step toward greater accountability and transparency in SARS processes.

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A recent article unpacks the key technical considerations behind this important relief, including what qualifies as a primary residence, how joint ownership, business use, and special trusts can affect the exemption, and why the exemption may be reduced or lost if the property was not used as a primary residence for the full period of ownership.

The article was reviewed by Professor Keith Engel, SAIT’s CEO, reinforcing SAIT’s role as a trusted institute on complex and evolving tax issues.

At SAIT, technical rigour and expert insight remain at the heart of our contribution to the tax profession, ensuring taxpayers and practitioners alike can navigate the law with confidence.

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SARS, South Africa’s tax authority, plans to unveil a VAT e-invoicing framework in 2026 as part of its VAT Modernisation Programme. This move aims to shift toward digital, real-time tax reporting to curb fraud, streamline compliance, and align with global standards like PEPPOL, with mandatory rollout potentially by 2028 starting with larger taxpayers. The framework builds on prior consultations and draft bills, defining e-invoices as structured electronic documents validated before issuance.

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As highlighted by SAIT’s Acting Deputy CEO Keitumetse Sesana in the Daily Investor, SARS is rapidly moving toward earlier, richer, and more accurate visibility of business activity, well before VAT returns are even submitted. This shift will significantly increase real-time scrutiny of businesses and place greater emphasis on system readiness and data integrity.
This aligns squarely with SARS’ Modernisation 3.0 journey—accelerating tax administration at the ‘speed of thought’ and moving us closer to a seamless taxpayer experience.

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SAIT’s Acting Deputy CEO, Keitumetse Sesana, joined Ntaoleng Lechela on Business Day TV’s The Close on 13 January 2026, to discuss SARS’ multinational tax reform agenda. The conversation focused on transfer pricing and international tax compliance, highlighting SARS’ Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) capacity-building initiative as a move toward a more structured and sophisticated approach to managing cross-border tax risk.

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The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is moving ahead with plans to implement an advanced pricing agreement (APA) system this year.

It has been recruiting specialists in the area of transfer pricing, reports Business Day, and is expected to take APA applications from multinational companies from as early as June.

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SAIT welcomed the National Treasury’s decision to partially accept the withdrawal of the tax exemption under Section 10(1)(gC)(ii). This provides crucial relief and certainty for South African retirees receiving income from past employment abroad.

The initial proposal would have fully removed the exemption, making foreign retirement benefits like pensions, annuities, and lump sums fully taxable in South Africa. This could have jeopardised the financial stability of thousands who planned retirements based on the current tax framework. In this interview, SAIT’s Acting Deputy CEO, Keitumetse Sesana, examines the National Treasury’s decision and its implications for the South African tax regime, including SAIT’s pivotal role in submitting formal commentary opposing the full repeal.

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In a radio interview discussion with KC 107.7 FM, SAIT’s Acting Deputy CEO, Keitumetse Sesana, examines South Africa’s official removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List.

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