Durban - Businessman S’bu Mpisane has described the latest seizure of their assets by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) as an attempt to “victimise” them for blowing the whistle on corruption taking place in the organisation.
Mpisane was speaking to The Mercury on Sunday, following media reports that Sars had obtained a court order to preserve and seize he and his wife’s personal and business assets.
The Sunday Tribune reported that Sars was probing the financial affairs of S’bu and Shawn Mpisane in terms of the Tax Administration Act for alleged tax evasion.
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It was also reported that due to the investigation, Sars had secured high court orders to seize and preserve their assets.
A confident Mpisane said his family was preparing for a fight that they would win, just as they emerged victorious the last time they did battle with the taxman.
He was referring to another tax fraud case that was brought against his wife.
“This is beyond tax. It all started when we reported corrupt Sars officials for a R4 million bribe. We submitted all the video footage, but it went missing. By doing so we opened the door to be charged,” said Mpisane.
He said that their latest encounter with Sars came at a time when they were preparing to go to Gauteng to give written statements against corrupt activities by a rogue unit.
“We are back in court again. All will come out in the court of law, as we have full confidence in our justice system,” he said.
This is the not the first time that the Mpisanes have been in trouble with Sars.
In February 2014, Shawn Mpisane was acquitted of tax fraud charges after the State took a decision to stop the trial against her after allegations were made against the prosecutor regarding her handling of the case.
Mpisane and her company, Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance and Transport, were on trial for 119 counts of tax fraud involving R4.7 million.
The charges were that she submitted documents, including fraudulent revised income tax statements for the 2008 tax year, and fake invoices, to Sars and put incorrect information on VAT returns for the 2009/10 tax year.
At that time, Mpisane’s legal team had questioned the tactics of the prosecutor in the case and alleged that evidence had been suppressed.
Internal disciplinary proceedings were brought against the prosecutor for alleged misconduct, but she was cleared of any wrongdoing in December last year.
The National Prosecuting Authority in KwaZulu-Natal said earlier this year that the charges would not be reinstated against Mpisane.