Shauwn Mkhize appears in court as SARS case advances

Shauwn Mkhize appeared at the KwaZulu-Natal Local Division of the Durban High Court on Tuesday, November 26.

The court granted a preservation order and a search-and-seizure warrant in the case involving the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS) versus Ms Mkhize and others.

Ms Mkhize, a businesswoman and owner of Royal AM soccer club, is alleged to owe SARS R37 million in back taxes. SARS said the court’s decision marked a significant development in efforts to combat tax evasion and criminal activity that undermines the country’s economy.

“This decision is a crucial step in SARS’s strategic objective to make it increasingly hard and costly for taxpayers who willfully and intentionally engage in criminal activity. Over the past few years, SARS has been diligently investigating and cracking down on the construction industry, so that it complies with tax laws. SARS enforces the provisions outlined in the Tax Administration Act No. 28 of 2011, with particular focus on section 163, on preserving and securing assets,” SARS said in a statement.

This recent enforcement action is one of many steps that SARS has taken in collaboration with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) to uphold the integrity of the tax system.

SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter has expressed his sincere thanks to the law-enforcement agencies — the SAPS, Hawks, and SARS members — for their exemplary cooperation that accomplished the assignment under difficult conditions.

“SARS will not waiver in executing its mandate without fear, favour, or prejudice, regardless of any persons’ standing in society. No one is above the law; it is therefore critically important that SARS acts emphatically to ensure they meet their legal obligations. The search-and-seizure operation must communicate an unambiguous message to all that law-enforcement agencies will act to stop lawlessness. The most vulnerable in our society, the aged, and children depend on the state through taxes to assuage and mitigate poverty, unemployment, and hunger. Any wilful defiance of the law will be resisted,” Mr Kieswetter said.