SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRESS STATEMENT

3 AUGUST 2005

SARS WAGE NEGOTIATION

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) held a formal dispute meeting to attempt resolution of the dispute declared last week by the two major unions, NEHAWU and the PSA. The dispute follows protracted annual wage negotiations which have taken place since May.

The dispute was declared in accordance with a Recognition Agreement signed by all parties in 1999 in terms of which a formal dispute resolution meeting must take place within seven days of the declaration of dispute. This formal dispute meeting took place today between SARS management and union, chaired by an independent third party.

Today's meeting unfortunately produced no resolution.

Another formal dispute meeting has already been scheduled for next week.

SARS will continue to engage with unions over the next two weeks to reach a resolution as quickly as possible to ensure that we remain focussed on our role of efficient and effective tax collection, trade facilitation and border protection aimed at building a brighter future for all South Africans.

We want to assure all South Africans that we will do everything possible to ensure that no taxpayer or trader is inconvenienced during this current period or beyond. All offices will remain open for payments, submission of returns and any other transaction with SARS.

SARS is also making every effort to process the returns submitted by millions of patriotic citizens during filing season quickly so that the issuing of refunds is not delayed.

SARS would like to encourage all VAT vendors and provisional taxpayers to use our free e-filing service. Payments can also easily be made at any of the four major banks to facilitate easy payments.

For more information, please contact Tasneem Carrim at 012 422 4981 or 082 467 9227

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA



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