EFF says Zuma not to blame for Ivan Pillay's problems at Sars

- The EFF says that Zuma is not the reason for Ivan Pillay's problems at Sars

- A member of the party blamed the issues on Pillay's lack of matric qualification

- Several party members, including deputy-president Floyd Shivambu, have slammed Pillay for being unqualified for his Sars job

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The EFF has (surprisingly) come to the defence of former president Jacob Zuma.

This came in response to journalist Ferial Haffajee suggesting that the problems at Sars began during Zuma's presidency.

An EFF member rubbished Haffajee's claim, saying the issues at Sars started because former Sars deputy commissioner, Ivan Pillay, was unqualified.

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In several articles, Haffajee has argued that Pillay's problems began after he began asking questions about Zuma's tax affairs, according to Times Live. 

However, EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee disagreed. Gardee said on Twitter that Pillay's issues were related to the fact that he was unqualified for his Sars post.

"Problems started when without a matric he became a senior Sars official, established a parallel intelligence unit and lastly when he stole his pension (we all want that arrangement) and got himself re-employed again by Sars without advertisement of his post," Gardee wrote.

EFF deputy-president Floyd Shivambu has also slammed Pillay's appointment despite his lack of a matric, Briefly.co.za has gathered.

"A personal friend of Pravin doesn't possess any qualifications, yet was appointed to senior positions in SARS, became its acting Commissioner," Shivambu said, referring to Pillay.

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Additionally, Pillay is connected to the Public Protector's investigation into Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. Mkhwebane claims that Gordhan violated the constitution by providing Pillay with an early retirement payout. 

The EFF has come out in defence of Mkhwebane in the past and supported her investigation into Gordhan, which may explain why they have been critical of Pillay as well.

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Source: Briefly News