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SARS and the ‘rogue’ unit: the ultimate guide
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Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane on Friday announced that her investigation into the so-called SARS ‘rogue unit’ found the allegation that the unit was established unlawfully to be substantiated.
Mkhwebane’s investigation is the tenth probe into allegations surrounding the SARS unit and former enforcement boss, Johann van Loggerenberg. These investigations include the Kanyane panel, the Sikhakane ‘investigation’, the Kroon panel, KPMG and various legal and government processes.
Mkhwebane announced, in a video shared on social media in June, that she would be serving Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan with a notice in terms of the Public Protector Act, notifying him of an adverse finding against him. He will now have an opportunity to make representations to her.
The adverse finding, it appears, is stemming from an EFF complaint relating to the unit, which operated during Gordhan’s time as SARS commissioner.
It is a minefield of largely disproved allegations surrounding an investigative unit at SARS that was dubbed ‘rogue’ in a series of articles in the Sunday Times, which the newspaper later retracted.
Reports by global auditing firm KPMG were also later retracted. Mkhwebane is however, heading down a path that has been travelled on numerous occasions.
Here’s how the rogue unit saga unfolded, according to numerous media reports and source interviews.
2006, 2007
SARS, in conjunction with the then National Intelligence Agency, agrees to establish a covert enforcement unit (that was to be housed at NIA). NIA, however, pulls out of the joint project, after SARS had hired members of the unit.
January to May 2007
SARS obtains three legal opinions giving the establishment of its own investigative unit the green light, and the Special Projects Unit is born.
25 December 2008
Mike Peega, a member Special Projects Unit – as the team is known – is arrested in Hartswater while on holiday, on charges relating to rhino poaching.
January 2009
SARS is officially notified by the SAPS of Peega’s arrest. He is placed at SARS head office, pending the outcome of a disciplinary inquiry.
Mid-2009
Two SARS staff members open a case of extortion against Peega and his lawyer after he threatened to make public allegations surrounding the SPU if SARS did not pay him an unknown sum of money.
Mid-2009
Peega launches arbitration proceedings with the CCMA, which fail. He is later taken to disciplinary, which finds against him. He appeals and loses. He then lodges a grievance against the process SARS followed, which fails. He is then fired.
October 2009
A dossier detailing allegations of illegal and covert actions undertaken by the SPU is leaked to the media. Peega is later revealed to be behind the dossier, called ‘Project Snowman’.
Mike Peega
February 2010
Project Snowman dossier is given to Julius Malema, who falsely claims it is a NIA document. Malema claims he is a victim of SARS’ “anti-Zuma” agenda.
Early 2010
NIA, now the State Security Agency (SSA) launches an investigation into the claims in the Project Snowman dossier, and later finds no wrongdoing. No report is ever handed to SARS.
Late 2010
SSA again raises concerns about the unit, now known as the High-Risk Investigations Unit. A meeting is held between SARS Commissioner Oupa Magashula and SSA representatives.
2010
Magashula writes to the SSA requesting an update on the status of the investigation into the unit. No response.
Former SARS Commissioner, Oupa Magashula
2011 to 2014
The HRIU works closely with the Hawks, SAPS Crime Intelligence and other law enforcement on a series of investigations. Each year SARS writes to the SSA requesting an update on the status of the investigations. No response has been received, to date.
July 2013
Oupa Magashula resigns and Ivan Pillay is appointed acting commissioner.
June 2014
Pillay establishes the Kanyane Panel, following a request by Johann van Loggerenberg, who was in charge of the HRIU, to look into allegations against Van Loggerenberg by SSA and British American Tobacco triple agent, attorney Belinda Walter, who claimed he gave her confidential taxpayer information and had intercepted communications illegally.
August 2014
Kanyane does not find Walter’s complaint credible. No mention of covert or rogue unit.
Attorney and alleged triple agent Belinda Walter and a screenshot of the main thrust of findings by the Kanyane Panel, which was tasked to look into her complaint against SARS official and former romantic partner Johann van Loggerenberg.
August 2014
SSA minister David Mahlobo announces he has requested the inspector-general of intelligence to investigate the conduct of SSA operatives (namely Walter, and SARS employee and deep cover agent Mandisa Mokwena). This report is kept under wraps until 2019.
September 2014
Former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene instructs Pillay to establish the Sikhakhane Panel to probe “comments” made about Van Loggerenberg in the Kanyane report.
23 September 2014
Tom Moyane is appointed SARS commissioner.
12 October 2014
Sunday Times publishes its first expose on the ‘rogue unit’ titled ‘SARS bugged Zuma’. This is also the first time the term ‘rogue unit’ surfaces. The newspaper continues to publish stories about the unit for two years.
21 December 2014
The Sikhakhane report is leaked to the Sunday Times. The report reveals in paragraph 57 that the panel’s terms of reference were extended [by Moyane] following “escalating” media reports that a rogue unit existed at SARS and falsely states Walter had complained of a covert unit at SARS. The report ultimately recommends a judicial commission of inquiry must be established.
December 2014
Moyane appoints KPMG to conduct a probe into allegations of a covert unit at SARS.
December 2014
Moyane appoints Mashiane, Moodley and Monama attorneys, who solicit the services of three advocates, namely Martin Brassey SC, Mike van As and Nadine Fourie, who also conduct an investigation.
February 2015
Nene appoints the Kroon Advisory Board, which has full powers to subpoena witnesses, to conduct a further investigation.
February 2015
Van Loggerenberg leaves SARS after being on suspension for months.
April 2015
The Kroon Advisory Board releases a media statement, attaching the Sikhakhane report, that states the HRIU, the so-called ‘rogue unit’, was “unlawfully established”.
May 2015
Pillay resigns after winning a Labour Court dispute against SARS.
May 2015
Moyane opens a case at Brooklyn SAPS, the now infamous Brooklyn CAS 427/05/2015, alleging a crime had been committed.
October 2015
A draft version of KPMG report is leaked to Sunday Times, sparking a Press Ombudsman complaint by Van Loggerenberg, Pillay and Gordhan.
Former finance minister, SARS commissioner and current public enterprises minister, Pravin Gordhan.
5 December 2015
The Press Ombudsman hearing with Sunday Times. Pillay, Gordhan and Van Loggerenberg win the complaint, and Sunday Times is ordered to retract.
February 2016
The Hawks send Gordhan the infamous list of 27 questions that cover the establishment of the HRIU and the early pension payout to Pillay.
11 October 2016
National prosecutions boss Shaun Abrahams announces Pillay, Gordhan and Magashula will be charged with fraud relating to the early retirement, pension payout and reappointment of Pillay, but charges surrounding the establishment of the unit are not mentioned.
30 October 2016
Abrahams, after discovering a 2009 memo by SARS lawyer Vlok Symington giving the green light on Pillay’s early retirement, withdraws charges against Pillay, Gordhan and Magashula.
18 November 2016
An anonymous complaint is opened with Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane relating to the early retirement, pension payout and re-appointment of Pillay in 2009, as well as several other issues including the establishment of the SARS unit being unlawful.
15 September 2017
KPMG International announces a withdrawal of its findings and conclusions in its report on the ‘rogue’ unit.
April 2018
Pillay, Van Loggerenberg and Andries Janse van Rensburg are charged in relation to the 2007 planting of covert bugs in the NPA offices, now known as ‘Project Sunday Evenings’. The case is ongoing.
24 May 2019
Mkhwebane finds against Gordhan in the early retirement of Pillay.
3 June 2019
Mkhwebane releases a YouTube video in which she indicates she has given Gordhan notice of an adverse finding against him and this relates to the establishment of the so-called ‘rogue unit’.
05 July 2019
Mkhwebane releases the findings of her probe.
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