Sars paid lawyers R120,000 to read a book for Moyane
Exorbitant fees come under the spotlight at commission of inquiry as Luther Lebelo testifies
Suspended SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane had the tax agency pay a law firm R120,000 to read a book in order to determine whether it defamed him. The exorbitant fees paid to Moyane’s lawyers, Mashiane, Moodley & Monama, by Sars during his tenure came under the spotlight at the Sars commission of inquiry on Monday, with the tax agency’s human resources head and key Monyane ally Luther Lebelo telling the commission he had repeatedly complained to the suspended tax boss about the hefty invoices from the law firm. Lebelo himself is under fire for instructing the same firm to compile evidence on the alleged “rogue unit” at Sars in preparation for his own appearance before the inquiry, which was invoiced at R1m. David Maphakela, partner at Mashiane, Moodley & Monama, is not pleased at being hauled before the inquiry and through his lawyers told the commission he would not give oral evidence on Monday. Maphakela had provided an affidavit to the inquiry and told the commis...
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