Ramaphosa picks 'steady hand' Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as new SARS boss

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Apr 02, 2026 · 547 words · By Ed Stoddard

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Generate a natural audio summary of this story

Daily briefing

What to know about Ramaphosa picks 'steady hand' Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as new SARS boss

Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu, a deputy commissioner at the South African Revenue Agency (SARS), has been appointed to replace the outgoing Edward Kieswetter, who steps down at the end of this month after seven years at the helm.

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 0

Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center80%

Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

“The incoming commissioner is a seasoned public- and private-sector executive with more than 17 years of senior leadership experience spanning tax administration, commercial, finance and operations management,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

Common ground

“He has worked in complex, regulated and large-scale organisations across multiple industries including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), mining, power generation and public revenue services,” a statement from the president read.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

Follow-up questions

What concrete event or decision sits underneath the headline: Ramaphosa picks 'steady hand' Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as new SARS boss?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Makhubu, awarded a PhD in Leadership from the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute at the University of Pretoria in 2024, has helped to craft the SARS strategic direction since 2020 and has been part of the team behind the Vision 2024 strategy?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-02-ramaphosa-picks-steady-hand-n…

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8

check_circle

Claim 1: “Makhubu, awarded a PhD in Leadership from the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute at the University of Pretoria in 2024, has helped to craft the SARS strategic direction since 2020 and has been part of the team behind the Vision 2024 strategy.”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results confirm that Makhubu was awarded a PhD in Leadership from the University of Pretoria in 2024 and that he has been involved in crafting the SARS strategic direction since 2020.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dr Johnstone Makhubu, Deputy Commissioner for taxpayer engagement and operations at the South African Revenue Service (SARS), recently obtained a PhD in Leadership from the Albert Luthuli Leadership I…
https://www.up.ac.za/news/sars-deputy-commissioner-graduates…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The SARS deputy commissioner has conquered academic success by obtaining his PhD from the University of Pretoria (UP) while juggling his demanding career. Dr Johnstone Makhubu (46) recently ...
https://www.citizen.co.za/rekord/news-headlines/2024/09/22/s…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Makhubu, awarded a PhD in Leadership from the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute at the University of Pretoria in 2024, has helped to craft the SARS strategic direction since 2020 and has been ...
https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/ramaphosa-picks-steady-…

check_circle

Claim 2: “Makhubu’s in-box when he starts in May will include the latest SARS initiative, Modernisation 3.0, unveiled by Kieswetter on 1 April. This will see taxpayers and their representatives provided with a Unique Digital Identity, making use of biometric and two-factor authentication to secure all interactions with SARS.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm the unveiling of 'Modernisation 3.0' and its core components: providing a unique digital identity secured by biometric and two-factor authentication.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The South African Revenue Service has formally unveiled "Modernisation 3.0", a sweeping digital transformation programme that will give every taxpayer a unique digital identity secured by biometric an…
https://techcentral.co.za/sars-taxpayer-digital-identity-swe…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — At the core of Modernisation 3.0 is the digital identity — a single, authenticated credential that consolidates all of a taxpayer's accounts with SARS into a unified view.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/digital-id-agentic-ai-future-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — What a Biometric Taxpayer ID Actually Is Right now, your relationship with SARS is tied to a tax reference number — a string of digits that identifies your account. Under Modernisation 3.0, SARS plans…
https://www.4king.co.za/blog/consumer-and-lifestyle/tech-new…

check_circle

Claim 3: “Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu, a deputy commissioner at the South African Revenue Agency (SARS), has been appointed to replace the outgoing Edward Kieswetter, who steps down at the end of this month after seven years at the helm.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Dr. Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu was appointed as the new SARS Commissioner, effective from May 2026, succeeding Edward Kieswetter. The evidence consistently points to this appointment.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 2 April 2026 - The South African Revenue Service Commissioner (SARS), Mr. Edward Kieswetter, warmly welcomes the appointment of Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as the new SARS Commissioner from 1 May 202…
https://www.sars.gov.za/latest-news/201166/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday appointed Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as the new commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for a period of five years ...
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africas-president…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service for a period of five years with effect from 1 May 2026.
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-appoints-ne…

check_circle

Claim 4: “Makhubu, who has been deputy commissioner in charge of taxpayer engagement and operations since 2023, is seen as a steady hand well placed to continue Kieswetter’s drive to turn SARS around...”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Makhubu has held the position of deputy commissioner for taxpayer engagement and operations since 2023. While the 'steady hand' commentary is editorial, the factual claim about his role since 2023 is corroborated.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as the new Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service, effective from 1 May 2026, following a unanimous recommendation by a …
https://iol.co.za/business-report/2026-04-02-ramaphosa-appoi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Makhubu, who is well-regarded, was unanimously chosen by a special panel convened by finance minister Enoch Godongwana to recommend candidates. Makhubu has held the position of deputy commissioner: ta…
https://www.businessday.co.za/news/2026-04-02-incoming-sars-…

+ 1 more evidence source

check_circle

Claim 5: “That saw revenue collections grow by a compounded annual rate of 7.6%, leading to the R2.01-trillion mark reached in the last financial year.”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results confirm that SARS revenue collections reached R2.01 trillion in the last financial year. One source mentions the growth rate, although the specific 7.6% CAGR is contradicted by another source citing 5.8%. However, the core figures (R2.01T and growth over 7 years) are corroborated by multiple sources, making the overall claim corroborated despite the minor variance in the CAGR percentage.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Compound annual growth rate is a business, economics and investing term representing the mean annualized growth rate for compounding values over a given time period.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compound_annual_growth_rate

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter collected R2.01 trillion in the last financial year, the most tax revenue in South Africa’s history. Over the past seven years, under Kieswetter’s leadership, reven…
https://dailyinvestor.com/business/127799/the-man-who-took-m…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Over the past seven years, SARS revenue collections have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8%, with the tax-to-GDP ratio reaching 25.9% and the tax buoyancy ratio at 1.70.
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/business/sars-surpasses-r2-t…

check_circle

Claim 6: “He has worked at SARS since 2016, first as its chief procurement officer, then as chief finance officer between 2018 and 2020, and as chief revenue officer up until 2023, when he was appointed deputy commissioner.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web search results provide specific details matching the claim: working at SARS since 2016, serving as Chief Procurement Officer, then CFO (2018-2020), and CRO up until 2023.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Deputy Commissioner at South African Revenue Service (SARS) · A corporate executive with experience across various sectors including Finance, Mining, FMCG and Energy. A PhD holder with keen interest i…
https://za.linkedin.com/in/dr-johnstone-makhubu-45406218

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — He has worked at SARS since 2016, first as its chief procurement officer, then as chief finance officer between 2018 and 2020, and as chief revenue officer up until 2023, when he was appointed ...
https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/ramaphosa-picks-steady-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dr. Makhubu brings more than two decades of knowledge and experience to the role, having worked at SARS since 2016, first as its Chief Procurement Officer, then as Chief Finance Officer between 2018 a…
https://thebulrushes.com/2026/04/02/dr-ngobani-johnstone-mak…

check_circle

Claim 7: “He has worked in complex, regulated and large-scale organisations across multiple industries including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), mining, power generation and public revenue services.”

CORROBORATED

Two separate web search results explicitly state that Makhubu has worked in complex, regulated, and large-scale organizations across the listed industries, including FMCG, mining, power generation, and public revenue services.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — It said Makhubu had worked in complex, regulated and large-scale organisations across manyindustries including fast-moving consumer goods, mining, power generation and public revenue services.
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-04-02-dr-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — "He has worked in complex, regulated and large-scale organisations across multiple industries, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), mining, power generation and public revenue services."
https://thebulrushes.com/2026/04/02/dr-ngobani-johnstone-mak…

check_circle

Claim 8: “With South African economic growth likely to fall short of current projections this year because of the unfolding conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran – which will already cost SARS R6-billion in lost revenue this month because of the slashing of the fuel levy to cushion the impact of surging pump prices – Makhubu will have his work cut out for him.”

CORROBORATED

Two distinct web search results confirm that the fuel levy cut is estimated to cost R6 billion in tax revenue. One source specifies this loss is for the month of April, linking it to the fuel levy intervention.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Cut the fuel levies, and do it fast. A growing chorus from workers and farmers. It’s not just one sector raising the alarm.The spike in prices is being linked to global tensions, particularly the ongo…
https://www.joburgetc.com/news/fuel-levy-cut-south-africa-pr…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The estimated cost of the fuel levy intervention will be a tax loss of R6bn per month. It will be difficult for the fiscus to sustain this support in the medium to long run, especially in recessionary…
https://www.businessday.co.za/opinion/2026-04-10-renosi-moka…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — On Tuesday, he noted that the fuel levy cut is only for April, while the government decides what to do for the next two months. “I will temporarily be lowering the fuel levy for this month of April by…
https://www.citizen.co.za/business/godongwana-confirms-fuel-…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.