SARS commissioner commemorates 96th birthday of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation began celebrating his birthday in 1989. This year was his 96th, and in 2029 they will celebrate his centenary.
In celebration of the South African politician and anti-apartheid activist’s 96th birthday, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation hosted a business breakfast fundraiser on August 21 at Melrose Arch.
The executive director of foundation, Neeshan Bolton, explained that the first birthday the foundation celebrated was Kathrada’s 60th in 1989, a few months before his release. “Today is a continuation of Kathrada’s legacy, and the foundation’s set of values that we try to uphold. We’ve been hosting these breakfasts as fundraisers to keep the foundation’s work going. Running a foundation like this means doing extensive work.”
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South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner Edward Kieswetter was the keynote speaker. He spoke, not only about the importance of decision makers to better understand the direction of our country, but the role of the revenue services in a changing economic climate. He was followed by a dialog, facilitated by chief economist and head of research at Standard Bank Group Goolam Ballim.
Kieswetter said he was honoured to be a keynote speak, and has always believed in what Kathrada stood for. “He made a selfless commitment, at great personal cost, to dedicate his life in the service of others. I wish that, among the current political leadership, we had that level of integrity, commitment, and the readiness to make selfless sacrifice in the service of others, and not to abuse the position behind the guise of serving others.”
He highlighted that South Africa had too many people in public office who fake their commitment to public service. “Two months ago, I was appointed as a visiting professor at a university. At the end of the visit, these were the qualities that were spoken about and stood out for me: character, ability, track record of delivery, work ethic, and incorruptibility.”
Kieswetter noted that his return to SARS was nothing but a response to the ‘Thuma Mina’ call, and having conviction that, in a small world, he could make a difference. He reiterated that leadership, for him, was not an entitlement, but a privilege. “For me, it is that sense of higher purpose, of not being in a position to serve your narrow interests, but to make a contribution for the greater good of our democracy.”
He said he did not think the citizens of this country could ever truly understand how badly the revenue service was decapitated due to state capture, and the intent which drove it was deliberate.
Kieswetter said state capture:
• Displaced competent people, who were life-long professionals at SARS, and marginalised them, bringing in people who were incompetent,
• Drove a culture of fear and intimidation. Where people were afraid to speak up because their heads would be taken off,
• The long lists of grievances and disciplinaries were conducted by people who could be defined as henchman, and an agenda to take out people was the order of the day, and
• Led to the loss of public confidence and trust between employees and leaders, and saw the decline in revenue in SARS.
The commissioner concluded that he adopted the following leadership points: “Leaders, who have the privilege to be in positions such as I am, must be clear on where they stand on matters of substance. Those who look to you, must never wonder, you must take the tough decisions early, and you need to be intentional about how you manage people. SARS has a clear and intentional people programme that management follows.”
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