JOHANNESBURG - A memorial service for former South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Oupa Magashula is being held in Johannesburg.
Magashula passed away after a long illness and hospitalisation at the age of 63.
In his early career, he worked as a trade unionist before joining the corporate and public sector.
Following his SARS tenure, he held various leadership roles in business.
Former FirstRand Bank CEO Sizwe Nxasana paid tribute to Magashula, describing him as a principled leader who understood people.
Nxasana recalled how, while serving on the SARS board, then-finance minister Pravin Gordhan asked him to recommend someone to lead the human capital and resources division at SARS.
Magashula, he said, was an “automatic choice”.
“He understood the importance of managing and dealing with people in a way that is empathetic and inclusive.
“That’s when he joined SARS, initially as head of HR and later as head of operations. We will miss him. He made a huge contribution. He later became SARS commissioner, which, as we know, is one of the most important institutions in South Africa,” Nxasana said.
Nxasana said the institution remains proud of Magashula and deeply respects the role he played in shaping SARS into what it is today.