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- The South African
Edward Kieswetter's time at SARS nears its end
South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has formally begun laying the groundwork for his exit in 2026, as his extended term at the helm of the country's tax agency enters its final stretch.
Kieswetter, who first assumed the top role in 2019, had his original five-year contract extended by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2024.
That extension is now set to expire in April 2026, and internal communications suggest the transition to new leadership is already being discussed.
In emails shared with SARS staff, Kieswetter acknowledged mounting speculation around his departure and confirmed that succession planning discussions are underway with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
'Let us not lose sight of our responsibilities,' Kieswetter wrote to staff.
'We serve a vital role in ensuring the country functions and thrives.'
Despite acknowledging that a minority may welcome his exit, the commissioner urged SARS employees to stay focused on their mission of national service.
Kieswetter rejoined SARS during one of its most critical periods, following a turbulent era under former commissioner Tom Moyane, whose tenure from 2014 to 2018 was marked by severe institutional damage.
The Nugent Commission of Inquiry later found Moyane responsible for dismantling key SARS units, including the High Net Worth Unit and the Large Business Centre – both of which were instrumental in auditing the country's wealthiest and most powerful individuals.
Upon returning in 2019, Kieswetter set about rebuilding SARS into a modern, tech-driven revenue service.
Under his leadership, SARS: Introduced auto-assessments (2021), easing tax compliance for millions by automating returns via third-party data
(2021), easing tax compliance for millions by automating returns via third-party data Relaunched the High Net Worth Unit and created a Crypto Unit to address new financial frontiers
and created a to address new financial frontiers Embraced machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve detection and enforcement
to improve detection and enforcement Saw a steady increase in revenue collection, including record-high revenues in recent years
In 2025 alone, SARS processed auto-assessments for around six million taxpayers, a number expected to grow further in the coming filing seasons.
Despite these wins, Kieswetter's time at SARS wasn't without difficulty.
His tenure saw: The Covid-19 pandemic , which tested the resilience of SARS's systems and staff
, which tested the resilience of SARS's systems and staff A narrowing tax base , worsened by mass emigration and economic strain
, worsened by mass emigration and economic strain Persistent budget shortfalls, requiring innovative approaches to extract more value from a shrinking pool of taxpayers
Looking ahead, SARS has been tasked with collecting over R2 trillion in revenue for the 2025/26 fiscal year – a record-breaking target that includes a R50 billion increase to plug a hole in the national budget.
With 2026 fast approaching, Kieswetter has committed to ensuring a smooth leadership transition, aligning closely with National Treasury.
While his successor has not yet been named, the groundwork is being laid to continue the technological and strategic evolution of SARS.
'My departure must not derail the vision,' Kieswetter reportedly told senior staff.
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