06 March 2023 –SARS confirms that it has responded to the request by the leader of the Democratic Alliance, Mr John Steenhuisen, made in terms of section 18(1) of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) regarding the declaration of a certain traveller.
The SARS Information Officer, after an extensive search for the record in various SARS Passenger Processing Systems, and engagements with the relevant business units within SARS which he believed may be in custody of and/ or be in possession of and/or have knowledge of the records requested, was advised that the record could not be found and /or may not be in existence.
The SARS Information Officer informed Mr Steenhuisen of the process followed, and accordingly, notified Mr Steenhuisen in terms of section 23(1) of PAIA. That SARS is not in possession of said record.
SARS exercises its mandate without fear, favour, or prejudice in all matters with which it deals. It will continue to do so in this matter. To that end, SARS will continue to comply with the provisions of Section 23(4) of PAIA. If the record in question is found after 5 March 2023, Mr Steenhuisen will be given access to the record unless access is refused on a ground for refusal contemplated in Chapter 4 of PAIA.
For further information, please contact SARSMedia@sars.gov.za
