SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
MEDIA RELEASE NUMBER 26 OF 2000

23 NOVEMBER 2000

PRESS STATEMENT - SARS TRANSFORMATION - SIYAKHA

A central motto for the new South African public service is Batho Phele - People First. To give the motto meaning, we need to transform the relationship between the public sector and the citizens they serve.

Through Siyakha, SARS has taken the lead in transforming their organisation into one that prizes efficiency above bureacracy, customer relations above authoritarianism, and assistance above obfusciation.

Siyakha, is one of the most dynamic new programmes of transformation in the country. We believe it will set a new tone for the way that government does business in South Africa.

SARS will concentrate more on risk management, less on administration. Its strenghtened auditing capacity will enable it to give much better service to traders and taxpayers, and importers and exporters, while at the same time targeting non-compliance.

For the past five years, SARS has consistently exceeded revenue targets, by improving its collections and combating fraud. It is a record that has allowed us to lower taxes, both personal and corporate, year by year.

It is a path that we need to continue.

Through Siyakha, SARS can contribute to the overall well being of the South African economy. Improved revenue collection and customs means we can increase social spending and cut taxes.

Siyakha, as a transformation process, began its diagnistic phase in February 2000, followed by a detailed planning phase from June.

This is an exciting beginning of a new and dynamic organisational environment that will see the emergence of six Processing Centres. Compliance Centres will be established in seven offices together with satellite Compliance Centres in other offices. All existing offices will form the basis for the new Taxpayer Service Centres. Existing Customs offices will also form part of the roll out of the Siyakha implementation.

The following 10 months will be used to effect the overall environmental. We have already started idenifying property where Siyakha initiatives will be launched.

The Outcome We Seek

What does Siyakha mean for the country, taxpayers and traders?

• Faster, more efficient processing of returns and refunds across all tax types
• Single point of registration for all tax types
• Dedicated SARS taxpayers service service centres designed to solve all queries quickly and efficiently
• and positioned to service all South Africams
• Simpler tax forms
• Electronic filing for most business and taxpayers who file through third parties
• Closer co-ordination with the tax filing and tax paying communities
• More revenue collected and better social benefits

What will Siyakha mean for SARS?

• More efficient processes
• Growth in stature as a revenue and customs organisation
• Optimising the use of limited resources
• Establishment of a transparent, fair and consistent organisation that people can trust
• An organisation that is responsive to the needs of the taxpayer
• Pride in making SARS a preferred employer

What will Siykaha mean for Staff?

• New job categories with a particular emphasis on taxpayer education and support
• New opportunities in audit, collections and data analysis to support our move from administration to audit
• New skills and training programmes to help them identify their potential and growth
• Pride in a new work culture

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA