A Bloemfontein-based company director has been ordered by the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court to repay the South African Revenue Services (Sars) R818 247.43 Z the amount he reportedly defrauded the revenue services of. The order is that he pay back the money in full, in monthly instalments of R15 000.
This is part of the sentence handed down to Sipho Walter Jwili (39) on Wednesday, 31 July, for contravening the Tax Administration Act. He was sentenced alongside his company, NTC General Trading (Pty) Ltd, and David Morena Sekhampu (40).
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said the accused pleaded guilty to the charge of tax evasion between 2017 and 2020. He said Jwili was additionally sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that he is not convicted of the same offence during the period of suspension.
“The court sentenced the company, NTC General Trading, to a fine of R500 000 and Sekhampu sentenced to five years’ imprisonment,” said Singo. He said the sentences are wholly suspended for five years on condition that the accused are not convicted of the same offence during the period of suspension.
Singo said Sars reported the matter after discovering fraudulent activities during a preliminary investigation. He said the elite crime fighting wing immediately launched an in-depth investigation, discovering the accused submitted false value-added tax (VAT) returns during the period in question.
“As a result of the fraudulent activities, Sars was prejudiced and suffered a loss of more than R800 000,” said Singo.
He said the conviction and sentencing of Jwili and his company, as well as Sekhampu, was the culmination of the investigation by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team.
