President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu, current deputy commissioner at the South African Revenue Service (SARS), as the new commissioner to replace Edward Kieswetter, who steps down at the end of April. Makhubu takes over in May amid ongoing efforts to sustain SARS's recovery from the State Capture era.
Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu, deputy commissioner in charge of taxpayer engagement and operations since 2023, has been named the new SARS commissioner by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Kieswetter, who has led the agency for seven years, will depart at the end of 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," Ramaphosa said in a statement. He added that Makhubu has worked in complex organisations across industries including fast-moving consumer goods, mining, power generation and public revenue services.
Makhubu joined SARS in 2016 as chief procurement officer, became chief finance officer from 2018 to 2020, then chief revenue officer until 2023. He holds a PhD in Leadership from the University of Pretoria's Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute, awarded in 2024, and contributed to the Vision 2024 strategy, which drove revenue collections to R2.01 trillion last financial year at a 7.6% compounded annual growth rate.
A senior government official described the choice as "a steady hand on the till" for continuity. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana noted the appointment occurs "at a unique and challenging juncture in South Africa’s economic landscape."
Makhubu inherits Modernisation 3.0, unveiled by Kieswetter on 1 April, introducing Unique Digital Identity with biometric and two-factor authentication, alongside efforts against the illicit economy. SARS faces revenue pressures from global conflicts, including a R6-billion loss this month due to a slashed fuel levy.
