President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for a five-year term, effective from 1 May 2026.
The appointment was made in terms of section 6 of the SARS Act of 1997, following a unanimous recommendation by a selection panel convened by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
Dr Makhubu, currently serving as Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Engagement and Operations since 2023, will succeed outgoing Commissioner Edward Kieswetter, whose term ends on 30 April 2026.
According to the Presidency, Makhubu brings over 17 years of senior leadership experience across both the public and private sectors. His expertise spans tax administration, finance, commercial strategy and operations management, with experience in industries including fast-moving consumer goods, mining, power generation and public revenue services.
He has also played a key role in shaping SARS’ strategic direction since 2020 and was instrumental in implementing the Vision 2024 strategy alongside Kieswetter. The initiative resulted in revenue collections growing at a compounded annual rate of 7.6%, while voluntary compliance improved by 3.4 percentage points.
Ramaphosa congratulated Makhubu on his appointment, highlighting the importance of SARS in generating the financial resources needed for government operations, infrastructure development and social services.
The President also expressed appreciation for Kieswetter’s leadership, crediting him with strengthening SARS as a vital institution supporting fiscal stability, service delivery, trade facilitation and investment.
Ramaphosa said the leadership transition reflects strong succession planning and contributes to building a capable and effective state.
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