Cyril Ramaphosa make move tackles corruption in South Africa.
On Tuesday, March 20, the South African President suspended the head of the taxman Tom Moyane, accused of covering a case of fraud and endangering the integrity of the tax service. A suspension applauded in the country, while the head of state is committed to restore the credibility of institutions, after years of scandals under the government of Jacob Zuma.
In a scathing letter, President Ramaphosa accuses Tom Moyane of the ruin of the tax administration. The head of the tax authorities is suspected of having covered the activities of his number 2, accused of fraud.
He is also suspected of having approved a tax refund of nearly 5 million euros to a family of businessmen, the Gupta, at the heart of several corruption scandals.
But above all, Tom Moyane is suspected of being the man of former President Jacob Zuma in the tax department. A South African journalist has recently revealed that Moyane would have in particular upon his arrival suspended an investigation into the tax returns of Jacob Zuma. He would then have cleaned up the administration, getting rid of overzealous officials.
Tom Moyane will be heard by a disciplinary committee and may be prosecuted by the courts. Ex-President Zuma risks having to report to the tax authorities.
