Incompetence at SARS?

What a shame that was once a shining example of efficiency and competence has turned to incompetence/political interference.

Return submitted in September 2021, selected for audit. All documents requester submitted by my accountant. No feedback. Start phoning end October beginning November, still busy, they will keep me updated. No updates received, phoned again (you are on hold with SARS for at least 30 minutes if you're lucky), again, they are still busy and will give updates. Asked the consultant to escalate my enquiry. 2 weeks go by, still no updates, phone again, escalate again. No updates. Phone again, escalate again, no updates. Finally mid February 2022, my accountant gets a mail that SARS wants to see my Vodacom statements for the year and a detailed mileage log for the year. I supp**** it.

Get a reply that it has been received. Two or three days later get an sms telling me my return is finalised without any errors. Phone my accountant and he says refund should follow. The very next day I get another sms telling me they want verification on something. My accountant resends everything. Phone SARS monday 7th March 2022 to find out if they have everything, holding on for 38 minutes, music stops, I say hello, everything's quiet and them I'm cut off.

What level of incompetence has SARS sunk too that they feel they do not have to give feedback as they say they will even when it's escalated. Are the staff totaaly inept or have they been given instruction by the government/ANC not to give refunds because they cannot pay their salaries. JUST ASKING.