Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has condemned the presence of Parliament at the SA Revenue Service (Sars) media briefing on Monday, saying that it gave the impression that Sars was run by Parliament.
"This gives the impression that Sars is run by parliament, defying the simple logic of separation of powers."Mbuyiseni Ndlozi
"It is puzzling why... Parliament's subcommittee on public accounts [would] send a representative to form part of Sars' pronouncements on... KPMG's scandalous withdrawal of its own report," Ndlozi said.
"This gives the impression that Sars is run by Parliament, defying the simple logic of separation of powers. It also creates an impression that Parliament is [agreeing] to and in support of the pronouncements of Sars.
"Parliament is meant to hold bodies like SARS accountable".Mbuyiseni Ndlozi
Embattled auditing firm KPMG is facing even more troubles as more firms have threatened to stop using the company's services, with its biggest clients reportedly considering ending their contracts with the firm, and the possibility that it will lose state contracts.
According to EWN, Parliament's standing committee on finance wants the firm to appear before it next month. Chairperson of the committee, Themba Godi, reportedly said: "Our view of the KPMG debacle is not necessarily centred [on] Sars. Sars can fight their own battles. But, as you know, KPMG does a lot of business with government and so it is necessary to ask the question: is there integrity in their work? Should we doubt their work?"
Ndlozi said the EFF would be writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly to call ANC MP Nyami Booi and the standing committee on public accounts to order for attending this press conference and "confusing" the public.
"Parliament is meant to hold bodies like Sars accountable, in particular in relation to this matter of the KPMG report that has brought the important institution of the tax collector into disrepute.
"We are all, therefore, left to assume that Booi wanted to create an impression that, in the war between KPMG and Sars, or even former employees of Sars who lost their jobs due to the KPMG report, Parliament is in support of Tom Moyane and Sars."