Johnstone Makhubu’s appointment as commissioner of the South African Revenue Service brought a long-serving executive into one of the country’s most closely watched public administration roles. His background combines engineering, business management, finance and leadership research.
As SARS set out its next phase of modernisation in September 2026, his name attracted renewed attention. This Johnstone Makhubu biography explains the qualifications and responsibilities that preceded his appointment, and what his current position involves.
Johnstone Makhubu Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ngobani Johnstone Makhubu |
| Nationality | South African |
| Profession | Public-sector executive |
| Current Role | Commissioner of SARS |
| Took Office | 1 May 2026 |
| Joined SARS | 2016 |
| Doctorate | PhD in Leadership, University of Pretoria |
| Previous Position | Deputy Commissioner for Taxpayer Engagement and Operations |
Education And Professional Qualifications
Makhubu’s qualifications span technical and managerial fields. His educational background includes electrical engineering at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and commerce studies in supply chain and operations management through the University of South Africa.
He also completed a Master of Business Leadership and further management training. These areas are relevant to the type of work he later handled at SARS, where large operational systems, procurement and financial controls sit alongside tax administration.
In 2024, he graduated from the University of Pretoria with a PhD in Leadership. The university reported the achievement while he was serving as a deputy commissioner, highlighting study undertaken alongside a demanding senior role.
The doctorate explains the use of “Dr” in his official profile. It is a research qualification in leadership, rather than a medical title.
A Career Before SARS
Before joining the revenue service, Makhubu worked across private-sector industries, including consumer goods, mining and energy. His experience covered finance, procurement, supply chains and general business operations.
That range is significant because running a revenue authority involves more than interpreting tax rules. The organisation also has to manage people, technology, expenditure and interactions with millions of taxpayers.
His career therefore developed through management functions that later became relevant to public administration. The move to SARS placed those skills inside an institution responsible for collecting the revenue that funds government activity.
His Progression Through SARS
Makhubu joined SARS in 2016, initially working in procurement. He became chief financial officer in 2018 and subsequently took responsibility for revenue-related leadership functions.
The official SARS profile places his appointment as chief revenue officer in 2021. In 2023, he became deputy commissioner responsible for taxpayer engagement and operations, bringing him closer to the service’s day-to-day interaction with the public.
These were distinct stages rather than interchangeable job titles. Financial leadership focused on the organisation’s resources; taxpayer engagement and operations involved the systems through which SARS carries out its mandate.
By the time he became commissioner, he had spent approximately a decade within the institution. His appointment therefore represented an internal succession supported by experience across several of its major functions.
Appointment As SARS Commissioner
President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Makhubu to succeed Edward Kieswetter, with the new term beginning on 1 May 2026. Coverage of the decision emphasised continuity and his existing knowledge of the organisation.
As commissioner, he leads SARS as a whole. The position carries responsibility for institutional performance, administration and implementation of the service’s strategy, rather than serving as a political ministerial office.
His official profile links that work to the organisation’s longer-term modernisation ambitions. Data, digital services, employee capability and public trust are recurring themes in how SARS describes its direction.
Why He Is In The News
In September 2026, SARS outlined a further phase of revenue administration and engagement under Makhubu’s leadership. The discussion placed attention on how the institution plans to make compliance easier while strengthening its ability to identify non-compliance.
For readers encountering him through those announcements, his biography offers useful context: he has worked inside the organisation’s financial and operational structures, and his academic research centres on leadership.
Public sources reviewed for this profile do not consistently establish an exact birth date or detailed private family history. His qualifications, appointments and institutional responsibilities are much more firmly documented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Johnstone Makhubu?
He is the South African executive who became commissioner of SARS on 1 May 2026, after serving as a deputy commissioner.
What Does Johnstone Makhubu Have A PhD In?
He holds a PhD in Leadership from the University of Pretoria, awarded in 2024.
When Did He Join SARS?
He joined in 2016. His subsequent roles included chief financial officer, chief revenue officer and deputy commissioner.
Is Johnstone Makhubu The Finance Minister?
No. He is the commissioner of the revenue service. That executive position is separate from South Africa’s minister of finance.
Leave a Reply