The South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the family of Oupa Magashula, former Commissioner of SARS, have announced his passing at the age of 63.In a heartfelt statement, family spokesperson Thebe Ikalafeng remembered Magashula as a dedicated public servant who “served South Africa with distinction in both the private and public sectors, including senior roles at Telkom and South African Breweries (SAB), and later as Commissioner of SARS. He will be remembered for humility, warmth and unwavering commitment to South Africa and its people. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, colleague and friend whose generosity of spirit touched countless lives.”
Magashula’s career at SARS began in 2006 when he joined as head of Human Resources and Corporate Services, serving on the executive committee. He ascended to the role of Commissioner in 2008 (initially reported in some contexts as 2009), succeeding Pravin Gordhan. During his tenure, he oversaw key operational areas, including an division focused on contact centres, processing centres, and service-delivery enablement.
His leadership was not without controversy. In 2013, Magashula resigned amid an investigation into allegations that he improperly offered a high-paying job (reportedly R700,000 annually) to a chartered accountant connected to convicted drug dealer Timothy Marimuthu, bypassing standard recruitment procedures. A fact-finding probe led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Zak Yacoob and Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane found no evidence of criminal activity but concluded that his actions risked SARS’s reputation and undermined ethics, then Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan accepted the resignation effective July 12, 2013, with Deputy Commissioner Ivan Pillay stepping in as acting head.
Gordhan noted that Magashula had admitted to failing to uphold the professionalism expected of the role.
Prior to SARS, Magashula held the position of HR director at Telkom and worked in senior capacities at South African Breweries (SAB). His early career in the 1980s included activism as a trade unionist. He also held operational and HR roles in the private sector at companies such as Nampak, Sun International, and Anglo Vaal Industries.
Educationally, Magashula earned a BSc in Oceanography and Chemistry from the University of Cape Town in 1991 and completed business management courses at the UCT Business School.
He is survived by his wife and two children.