Statement from the Presidency:
President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided to appoint a new presiding officer for the inquiry into disciplinary charges against SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane.
This follows an objection raised by Mr Moyane regarding the links between Judge Kate O’Regan, who had initially been appointed as the presiding officer, and Corruption Watch, an NGO of which she is a board member.
While the President is certain that Judge O’Regan would have adjudicated the matter objectively and that her position did not present a conflict, he decided that it would nevertheless be important to remove any possible perception of bias.
The President has thanked Judge O’Regan for availing herself for this public service.
The President has duly appointed Mr Azhar Bham SC as the presiding officer for the disciplinary inquiry.
South Africa names new head of inquiry into ex-tax agency boss
By Hilton Shone
(Bloomberg) – South African president Cyril Ramaphosa Tuesday named Azhar Bham as the replacement presiding officer of a disciplinary inquiry into the former head of the country’s tax agency.
The decision to replace retired Constitutional Court Judge Kate O’Regan as the presiding officer follows an objection by Tom Moyane regarding the links between O’Regan and Corruption Watch, a non-governmental organization of which she is a board member, Ramaphosa said in statement published on the presidency’s website.
“While the president is certain that Judge O’Regan would have adjudicated the matter objectively and that her position did not present a conflict, he decided that it would nevertheless be important to remove any possible perception of bias,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa suspended Moyane as commissioner of the South African Revenue Service in March as part of a shake-up at the agency.
