A few months ago some rumours surfaced around allegations that SARS, under Pravin Gordhan, set up a ‘rogue spy unit’ that listened in on South Africans’ phone calls and read private emails; this has now been confirmed in a new report by KPMG.

BusinessTech and the Sunday Times reported that SARS spent R106 million of taxpayer’s money to spy on… wait for it, taxpayers.

The unit, consisting of SARS “ghost employees” used specialised software to spy on members of the National prosecuting Authority as well, and the report implicates former minister of finance, Pravin Gordhan.

Gordhan was commissioner of SARS between 1999 and 2009, the time-period throughout which the spying was going on; during the same time, Ivan Pillay was deputy commissioner and he also faces possible criminal charges.

KPMG’s report highlighted four other key factors, thickening the plot even further:

The unit operated outside of SARS’ oversight and controls

Members of the unit were referred to as “ghost employees”

Agents unlawfully intercepted communications of taxpayers

Agents spied on the NPA at Pillay’s request

As is custom with South African government officials, both Pillay and Gordhan denied any involvement.