Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP
UDM President
Dear Minister Nene and Judge Nugent
MR VLOK SYMINGTON: SARS DECISION TO PAY SYMINGTON’S LEGAL COSTS MUST BE REVERSED AND INVESTIGATED
I refer to a City Press article that reported on Sunday, 26 August 2018, (see https://city-press.news24.com/News/sars-settlement-with-symington-questioned-20180825) that the SA Revenue Service (Sars) has, in a “confidential settlement”, undertaken to abandon “its right to the costs awarded in its favour” by Judge Hans Fabricius, following Vlok Symington’s unsuccessful bid last September to block disciplinary charges against him.”
According to City Press, “records showed that Symington was expected to pay Sars at least R300 000 for its legal bills. In terms of the settlement agreement, Sars would pay both its lawyers and those of Symington. At least R750 000 was tabled as half of Symington’s costs for the two-part case, meaning the entire transaction could cost the taxpayer in excess of R1 million if Sars’ costs were factored in”.
Sir, we are also concerned that, according to City Press, acting commissioner Mark Kingon is on record saying that he enjoyed a friendship with Vlok Symington. There is clearly something wrong here, as it seems that Kingon is prepared to waste taxpayers’ money to advantage or save his friend.
In our view, Mr Kingon, and employee relations executive Luther Lebelo who was part of this decision, have neglected their duties.
The United Democratic Movement calls upon you to declare the decision null and void and that Mr Kingon and Mr Lebelo are to be made to explain what happened here; or that the matter be included in the current investigation of the commission of inquiry into the country’s tax management.
Kindly advise
Mr Bantu Holomisa, MP
UDM President
