Former SARS boss Edward Kieswetter has a new job
· The South African
Former South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner Edward Kieswetter has embarked on a new chapter after launching his own consulting company just weeks after leaving the tax authority.
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Kieswetter is the founder and chief executive officer of vEKtor Solutions Laboratory, a consulting firm focused on helping corporate clients and public institutions improve organisational performance.
According to Kieswetter’s LinkedIn profile, he took up the CEO position in May 2026, shortly after his term as SARS commissioner ended in April.
From Alexander Forbes to SARS
Edward Kieswetter brings decades of experience in organisational transformation and business turnarounds to his new venture.
He previously served as CEO of Alexander Forbes between 2009 and 2016, where he led a significant turnaround at the financial services group, rebuilt its reputation and oversaw its return to the JSE.
However, his most prominent turnaround assignment came when he returned to SARS.
Kieswetter was appointed commissioner in May 2019, after the revenue service had suffered significant institutional damage during the State Capture era.
During his tenure, he focused on rebuilding SARS’s capacity, improving efficiency and restoring public confidence in the institution.
By the final year of his leadership, SARS had collected a record R2 trillion in tax revenue, highlighting the scale of the recovery under his leadership.
A new focus on organisational transformation
Kieswetter’s new company appears to draw directly on that experience, offering consulting services to organisations seeking to improve their performance and effectiveness.
His experience spans both the private and public sectors, including financial services, tax administration and institutional reform.
His departure from SARS was also marked by praise from President Cyril Ramaphosa.
When Kieswetter’s term ended in April, Ramaphosa credited him with positioning SARS as an important contributor to fiscal stability, social delivery, trade facilitation and domestic and foreign investment.
Kieswetter was succeeded by his former deputy commissioner, Johnstone Makhubu, who formally took over as SARS commissioner on 1 May 2026.