Unsurprisingly, Helen Zille’s tax revolt threat didn’t go down well at the SA Revenue Service (Sars). The former DA leader has long expressed frustration at the SA electorate, often repeating the refrain that voters have got the government they deserve. This frustration took a more dramatic turn when she threatened to organise a tax revolt if there were no consequences for those implicated in the many corruption scandals dogging the governing ANC. The DA, under Mmusi Maimane, has distanced itself from her threat. However, it comes at a time when tax compliance is already suffering. Sars is in the midst of a major clean-up after it was incapacitated under former commissioner Tom Moyane. A permanent commissioner needs to be appointed urgently to head up the tax agency after the four “lost years” under Moyane, and the process is in fact already underway despite the former tax boss continuing his legal bid to return to the post. Zille’s threat, and the support she has received from some...

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