Auditor-general sees nothing amiss at SARS intelligence unit
When auditing SARS’s financials, the office of the auditor-general did not raise any red flags about the existence of the ‘rogue unit’
The auditor-general says he found nothing improper or illegal about the South African Revenue Services (SARS) intelligence unit for which the Hawks is investigating Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Monday dropped fraud charges against Gordhan and two former SARS officials, Oupa Magashula and Ivan Pillay. Gordhan is still being investigated over his role in the establishment of the unit. As recently as October, National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams said in a press briefing that the unit contravened both intelligence legislation and the Constitution and that investigations were still under way. The National Research Group, dubbed by its critics as a "rogue unit", was established during Gordhan’s tenure as SARS chief in an effort to clamp down on the illicit economy. It was started with the knowledge and approval of then finance minister Trevor Manuel. The allegations made against Gordhan and others by the Hawks is that the ...
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