Vavi e-tolling Twitter comments “unfortunate” – SARS

A Twitter user suggested Vavi’s suspension was a result of his stance against the controversial e-tolling system set to be implemented on Gauteng’s freeways, but SARS spokesperson Adrian Lackay denied this.

“SARS seeks to apply the tax and customs laws it administers with fairness, in a transparent and even-handed manner without any external influence,” the Times Live quoted Lackay as saying.

“No single person in SARS can decide who to investigate, who to audit, who to settle tax debts with and who not to… There is absolutely no legal basis for SARS to target any taxpayer for political reasons.”

The same Twitter user suggested president Jacob Zuma, who signed the e-toll bill into law, will send his “dogs” (SARS) after Vavi should he continue to express his opposition.

Vavi tweeted:

We not going to buy those etags – we not going to cooperate with privatization of inner city highways without a fight

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) October 22, 2013

A Twitter user then responded:

Mr @Zwelinzima1 Vavi, being against #eToll has led to your suspension, #Zuma will send you his dogs, SARS, if you keep on pushing it.

— Aphiwe Mazelem (@NangamsoMazelem) October 22, 2013

Vavi then responded to the user’s Tweet:

Haha! coincidence – SARS on my case now “@NangamsoMazelem: Mr @Zwelinzima1 Vavi, being against #eToll has led to your suspension

— Zwelinzima Vavi (@Zwelinzima1) October 22, 2013

In another Tweet Vavi said he pays his tax “religiously” every year, and does so with the help of professionals.

“It is unfortunate that high profile public figures in this country use social media platforms to try and conjure up conspiracies about their tax positions. Any taxpayer is legally entitled to raise any tax issue directly with SARS at any level of the organisation in order to resolve a tax dispute,” said Lackay.

Vavi’s was placed on leave by COSATU in August after he said he had an affair with a colleague.