Writer: Sihle Manda
WOMEN IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
First female tax ombud hits ground running S
outh Africa’s tax regime is
at National Treasury. Before
University of Transkei),
considered one of the best
that she was a Tax Specialist at
a Master of Laws
in the world, and the Office
SARS from 2009.
Degree from the
of the Tax Ombud (OTO) has the
Mputa is equipped with
University of
supreme task of ensuring that the
extensive tax technical skills
the Witwa-
grievances of taxpayers against
and experience, encompass-
tersrand,
the South African Revenue Service
ing personal income tax for
Master in
(SARS) are addressed and that
high-net-worth individuals and
Commerce
everyone gets their due refund.
expatriates, employment tax
Degree in
Yanga Mputa, who was re-
issues, retirement tax matters.
cently appointed Tax Ombud, is
She also has expertise in busi-
at the coalface of this daunting
ness tax aspects, exemptions
task. Her tenure is for five years.
and incentives, international tax
The OTO reviews and address-
affairs, exchange control issues
es any complaints by taxpayers
related to tax, and financial sec-
against SARS to ensure fairness
tor taxation topics.
in the tax collection.
She holds Baccalau-
In July 2023, Mputa became
reus Procurationis
the first woman appointed to the
(BProc) and
position. She succeeded retired
Bachelor of
former Gauteng Judge President
Laws degrees
Bernard Ngoepe. Established in
from the Wal-
2013, the OTO has been around
ter Sisulu
for 10 years.
University
From 2014 until her recent
(former-
appointment, she worked as
ly the
International Tax from NorthWest University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Law from the University of KwaZuluNatal. Barely three months into her five-year tenure, Mputa, an admitted attorney of the high court, has set herself lofty goals. She is full of praise for Judge Ngoepe, her predecessor, for steering the office in the “right direction” and leaving the OTO
Chief Director: Legal Tax Design
14
Public Sector Manager • October 2023