Social networks were on Friday abuzz with comments about the police and South African Revenue Services raid at the house of controversial and extravagant Durban couple, Shauwn and S’bu Mpisane, and Shauwn’s subsequent court appearance.
Blogs, Facebook and Twitter were inundated with comments about the couple’s run-in with the law.
It has been a rough week for the Mpisanes, who on Wednesday returned from a trip to London to watch the Manchester United-Barcelona Champions League football final to news that their home was being raided by members of the Hawks and Sars.
The raid, at their multi-million rand Addison Drive, La Lucia, house was part of an ongoing tax-related investigation, said Sars spokesman Adrian Lackay.
S’bu, a former Metro policeman, lashed out at the officials who had carried out the raid, saying it was an abuse of power.
In an interview with the Daily News Sbu professed his and his wife’s innocence. He said: “We are not criminals, and we are not on the run.
“There was no need for them to come in with a search-and-seize warrant. We have nothing to hide, and I would have gladly opened the door to them if they had simply knocked. The manner in which they created an atmosphere of a raid is unacceptable.”
Except for files from his and Shauwn’s computers, and a computer belonging to their nine-year-old son, Andile, S’bu said no assets or property had been removed during the raid.
The couple’s woes were, however, far from over as on Thursday Shauwn appeared in the Durban Regional Court, where she was painted as a convicted fraudster who had previously cheated the taxman of R1.8 million.
Shauwn, 36, the daughter of late ANC councillor Florence Mkhize, whose companies have benefited from many government tenders, is now facing further charges of fraud, alternatively tax evasion, amounting to R2.4m.
She was granted bail of R50 000 but had to hand over her passport. The matter was adjourned until next month.
People on Friday had a field day commenting about the recent events, saying it was all the couple’s doing.
“Why did they have to flaunt their money to the world by throwing lavish parties? They wanted all this attention that they’re getting now, so they must enjoy it,” said Lindelwa Mchunu in a tweet.
Some of the comments from blogs: “Shauwn, you can’t mess with Sars, they are like “Big Brother” watching you all the time.”
Another comment said: “Just like Shaik, Cwele, Yengeni, and Selebi – Shauwn won’t spend any time in jail. Guilty or not.”
In March the couple threw a lavish four-day-long celebration for their seventh wedding anniversary. - Independent on Saturday