SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRESS STATEMENT

10 OCTOBER 2002

LAUNCH OF SARS SIYAKHA TRANSFORMATION PROGRAMME IN THE WESTERN CAPE

The Executive Committee of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is pleased to announce the implementation of the Siyakha Transformation Programme in the Western Cape.

The initial phase of implementation will focus on consolidating the Cape Town and Bellville offices. This will result in the creation of an Assessment Centre to be housed at Sable Building, an Enforcement Centre at Project 166, a Call Centre at Project 166 and new branch offices.

These changes will lead to a concentration of resources and capabilities in order to improve the quality of service to the public. The Assessment Centre will focus on improving the quality of assessments and on reducing the turn-around times in processing of taxpayer returns. The Enforcement Centre will sharpen our focus on improving the prevailing compliance climate, with emphasis on reducing the tax gap and on raising the levels of voluntary compliance. In keeping with our overall efforts to better our service levels, the branch offices and the call centre will focus on high resolution levels of taxpayer and trader queries. The SARS Service Monitoring Office, launched last week, will monitor the service to the public to ensure that taxpayer and trade queries on procedural matters are resolved satisfactorily.

These changes mark an important milestone in the transformation of SARS. In this regard, plans are in place to ensure a seamless transition that will entail the following:

• The establishment of the new facilities and movement of 1, 2 million files by January 2003;
• The movement of some 800 staff during January 2003;
• The opening of the new facilities on the 10th February 2003.

We have already started consultations with key stakeholders including the regional structure of SAICA to ensure that the envisaged changes are not disruptive to our work relationships.

The benefits to the public and taxpayers in particular, will be:

• A greater focus on rendering a quality service characterised by speedy resolution of queries and improved turn-around times on assessment of returns and the payment of refunds;
• The strengthening of compliance initiatives to improve the prevailing culture of non-compliance by:
• reducing the number of outstanding returns;
• improving field inspections, examinations and audit coverage;
• raising collections of revenue, including the outstanding debt of assessed returns.

The impact of improved service and higher revenue collection efforts will continue to provide a vital service to all South Africans and the Government by:

• providing revenue for financing the development programme, and improving the quality of life of all;
• helping to reduce the budget deficit and cost of borrowing for Government; and
• reducing the tax burden for individual taxpayers and improving household incomes.

We are pleased to confirm that Siyakha has arrived in the Western Cape and we look forward earnestly to improving the service for taxpayers.

ISSUED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN REVENUE SERVICE
PRETORIA