The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) that is holding its 5th General Assembly in Gaborone this week has been dogged by controversy ranging from allegations of maladministration and unethical practices. Sources have revealed that at the height of tensions within the organisation, its single largest funder – South African Revenue Services (SARS) – threatened to pull out; a move that would have led to its collapse. Besides drawing huge revenue from SARS which houses in Pretoria, ATAF is member states funded based on countries total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also relies heavily on international donors. Sources say SARS was so unhappy with governance issues at ATAF that they wrote, threatening to pull out his organisation from ATAF. It has been feared that donors would pull out once SARS and other concerned members cancel their membership. Various sources have sighted many concerns including the irregular recruitment process which have resulted with the institution being dominated by one race with blacks accounting for a small portion of only 26 per cent. It has also worried observers that the institution has become a retirement berth for former Commissioner Generals of a number of African countries. Indigenous Africans are also allegedly given very…