<\/p>\n
President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s office has denied he ordered the South African Revenue Service to investigate the tax affairs of businesspeople who attended the gala dinner of the EFF.<\/p>\n
Ramaphosa\u2019s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president does not have powers to direct any state agency to do its work.<\/p>\n
He said Sars like any State agency follows its own laws in conducting its business.<\/p>\n
EFF leader Julius Malema claimed this week during a media briefing that Ramaphosa had instructed Sars’ head Edward Kieswetter to investigate the tax affairs of businesspeople that were at the EFF\u2019s gala dinner last week to celebrate its 10th anniversary.<\/p>\n
But Sars denied that it received instructions from Ramaphosa.<\/p>\n
Magwenya told the media on Thursday that Malema was making unfounded allegations against the president.<\/p>\n
He denied that Ramaphosa gave instructions to Sars to investigate businesspeople at the EFF gala dinner.<\/p>\n
Magwenya said Ramaphosa never interferes in the affairs of any State agency. There were laws governing Sars or any State agency, which prohibit the interference by Ramaphosa or any person from outside. <\/p>\n
Magwenya said Sars has also denied the allegations by Malema.<\/p>\n
\u201cSars has issued a stern statement with regard to that matter. Sars is an independent tax collection body. At no point in time was the president ever involved in directing Sars in its operations or directing Sars to act against particular individuals. Sars is guided by its enabling act, and Sars follows the prescripts of that enabling law with respect how it operates, how it conducts its inventions where necessary and how it collects taxes. At no point is the president ever involved in directing operations of any state agency, be it Sars or any other agency for that matter,\u201d said Magwenya.<\/p>\n
He said they dismissed Malema’s allegations with the contempt they deserve.<\/p>\n
siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za<\/p>\n
Politics <\/p>\n
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