The Faculty of Commerce and the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) in the School of Economics invite you to an open lecture by former SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter.
Topic:
BUILDING INSTITUTIONAL INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS: The South African Revenue Service case study
About the speaker:
Dip Elec Eng (CPUT); PGDip Ed (Mathematics & Engineering Ed) (UCT); B.Ed Hon (Mathematics & Science Ed) (UWC); M.Ed (Science Education - Cognitive Development (UWC); Executive MBA (Strategy & Transformation) (Henley, UK); M.Com (SA & Int Tax law) cum laude (NWU); Ass Ed (Harvard), Design Thinking (Stanford)
Edward Kieswetter re-joined as SARS Commissioner on 1 May 2019, serving until 30 April 2026. Edward had formerly served as the founding Group Executive of the SARS Large Business Centre and High Net Worth Unit, SARS Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Commissioner during the period 2004 to 2009. From 2010 to 2016, he was the Group Chief Executive for the Alexander Forbes Group Holdings, where, after a successful, well-publicised turnaround, the company was listed on the JSE in July 2014. Edward also held senior executive roles at FirstRand Banking Group and Eskom. In addition, he managed his own investments and served on various boards, which, amongst others, included Transnet (NED), Technology Innovation Agency (Chair), and Shoprite Holdings (LID). He relinquished all these external roles when he took up the position as SARS Commissioner in 2019.
Edward’s leadership capability has also been recognised globally through serving in a variety of international roles, including currently as Chair: African Tax Administration Forum, Vice Chair: OECD Forum on Tax Administration (FTA) and Bureau Member of the OECD Forum on Tax Administration. Past roles include Chair: World Customs Organisation (WCO), Vice Chair: OECD Global Forum on Information Exchange for Tax Transparency, Co-Chair – African Initiative of the OECD Global Forum on Information Exchange for Tax Transparency, Deputy Chair: Committee for Accounting Education Standards – IFAC, Chair: Committee for Auditor Ethics – IRBA and Board Member: GEMS Education Global Academic Council.
He is the recipient of several awards, including the Government Technology Leader Award 2025, Nedbank Public Sector Leader of the Year 2025, Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Management in 2017 from SAPSO, Finalist in the All Africa Business Awards 2016, ACO Dealmaker of the Year, 2015, and SA Boss of the Year, 1999. On 17 April 2026, Edward received an Honorary Doctorate in Business and Management Sciences in Taxation from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Additionally, he serves as a visiting professor at the Da Vinci Institute, North-West University, Free State University, University of Western Cape, and Wenzhou Medical University.
Date: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Time: 17h30 for 18h00 until 20h30. Refreshments will be served after the event.
Venue: Kramer LT2 on level 2, Kramer Law Building, Middle Campus, University of Cape Town
Please note that this is an in-person-only event with no online option.
For any queries related to this event, please email commerce.marketing@uct.ac.za.