President Ramaphosa Appoints Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as New SARS Commissioner to Succeed Edward Kieswetter

President Ramaphosa appoints Dr. Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as SARS Commissioner to replace Edward Kieswetter starting May 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 8:56 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Investor

A Strategic Succession at the Revenue Service

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially designated Dr. Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu as the successor to Edward Kieswetter, marking a pivotal transition for South Africa’s tax authority. The appointment, announced on April 2, 2026, follows a rigorous vetting process led by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and a specialized selection panel. Makhubu, who has served as the Deputy Commissioner for taxpayer engagement and operations since 2023, is expected to maintain the upward trajectory of an institution that has become a cornerstone of national fiscal stability.

Extensive Leadership Across Regulated Industries

The incoming Commissioner brings over 17 years of executive experience to the role, having held senior leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. President Ramaphosa highlighted Makhubu’s diverse background, noting his expertise in finance, operations management, and tax administration across the mining, power generation, and fast-moving consumer goods industries. Since 2020, Makhubu has been a key architect of the agency's strategic direction, working closely with the outgoing leadership to implement the "Vision 2024" modernization framework.

Inheriting a Rebuilt Institutional Legacy

Makhubu faces the significant task of following Edward Kieswetter, who is widely credited with rescuing the agency from the institutional decay of the State Capture era. Between 2014 and 2018, the revenue service was severely compromised by corruption and inefficiency, losing much of the prestige it had earned in the early 2000s. Kieswetter, who was coaxed out of retirement in 2019, successfully navigated the agency through a fundamental rebuilding process, transforming it into what he describes as a "SMART Modern SARS" defined by technological integration and restored integrity.