The South African Revenue Service (SARS) announced on Tuesday that its operations have been affected by the industrial action from unions, forcing the tax body to close 18 branches in seven provinces around the country.

This comes at a sensitive time for SARS operations, as tax season started at the beginning of July.

The Public Servants' Association (PSA) and the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) announced on Monday that they would be resuming their strike at SARS after suspending their industrial action for two months during wage negotiations.

Unions are demanding a 7% increase in wages.

SARS has floated the idea of channelling its savings from 2021 towards wages. Unions said this would only add up to a 1.39% increase and rejected the offer. 

In a statement, SARS said it was forced to close multiple branches, including five in Gauteng, three in KwaZulu-Natal, four in the Western Cape, three in the Eastern Cape, and one each in Mpumalanga, the Free State and the Northern Cape.

It encouraged taxpayers filing tax returns to make use of its digital services, including e-filing.

"SARS apologises for any inconvenience caused but due to industrial action taking place across SARS, we are experiencing delays in servicing our taxpayers. Please continue to make use of our digital services during this time," the statement read.

PSA spokesperson Reuben Maleka claimed that the strike action has "fully shut down" border gates and SARS branch offices.

"The employer must listen and provide a better offer," said Maleka.

Nehawu spokesperson Lwazi Nkolisi said the strike action at SARS kicked off "quite well" with members coming out in numbers at demonstrations across various SARS offices. 

"We will be having demonstrations through picketing in offices of SARS and we will not be rendering any services until the employer offers something tangible to our members and workers at SARS," said Nkolisi.

These branches have been closed due to the strike:

Gauteng

• Edenvale
• Benoni
• Randfontein
• Springs
• Boksburg

KwaZulu-Natal

• Richards Bay
• Pietermaritzburg
• Durban

Western Cape

• Cape Town
• Mitchells Plain
• Paarl
• Beaufort West

Mpumalanga

• Mbombela

Eastern Cape

• Umtata
• Uitenhage
• East London

Free State

• Qachas (border post)

Northern Cape 

• Upington