President of Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa
By Vincent Magwenya
Spokesperson to the President
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service for a period of five years with effect from 1 May 2026.
President Ramaphosa has made this appointment in terms of section 6 of the South African Revenue Service Act of 1997, following a unanimous recommendation by a selection panel convened by Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana.
Dr Makhubu, who has held the position of Deputy Commissioner: Taxpayer Engagement & Operations since 2023, succeeds Commissioner Edward Kieswetter whose two-year contract ends on 30 April 2026.
The incoming Commissioner is a seasoned public and private sector executive with more than 17 years of senior leadership experience spanning tax administration, commercial, finance and operations management.
He has worked in complex, regulated and large-scale organisations across multiple industries including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), mining, power generation and public revenue services.
Dr Makhubu has worked on the formulation of the SARS strategic direction since 2020 and has actively worked to implement the Vision 2024 strategy together with the current Commissioner.
The implementation of Vision 2024 achieved revenue collections with a compounded annual growth rate of 7.6% while voluntary compliance increased by 3.4 percentage points.
President Ramaphosa congratulates Dr Makhubu on his appointment to lead the revenue service as the institution that provides the financial resources necessary for the government to function, fund infrastructure, and pay for social services.
President Ramaphosa has also expressed his appreciation and high regard for Commissioner Kieswetter’s incisive and innovative leadership that has positioned SARS as a critical enabler of fiscal stability, social delivery, trade facilitation, and the enablement of domestic and foreign investment.
President Ramaphosa says the change in the leadership of SARS shows how sound succession planning contributes to the capability of the state.
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