Coronavirus: SA Revenue Service confirms 7 cases among staff

South African Revenue Service commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, has confirmed seven positive Covid-19 cases among staff members in four provinces at the tax authority. 

The agency on Tuesday said one employee was based in the Free State, one in KwaZulu Natal, one in the North West and four in the Western Cape. None of the confirmed cases at SARS are in Gauteng.

Kieswetter on Tuesday said management had “implemented necessary de-contamination measures” at the locations where the staff had tested positive. The agency’s Bellville Campus in Cape Town will temporarily close to be sanisited and re-open on Wednesday.

“It is important that during these challenging times, none of our employees feel that they are emotionally and spiritually separated from the larger SARS family, even as they are physically isolated to limit the spread of the virus to others,” said Kieswetter.

Kieswetter urged taxpayers who need to contact SARS to only visit the agency’s offices when absolutely necessary, after making an appointment online or by telephone.

When Kieswetter briefed reporters earlier in May, he praised the “majority of staff” for being “wonderfully supportive” and said SARS remained “committed to continuing with the administration of tax and revenue collection”.