MPUMALANGA – Sigegede Aaron Mathebula (68) was arrested and appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate court on Tuesday, 01 October 2024. His arrest follows the execution of a warrant issued against him during a court appearance of three other accused Bongani Mkhatshwa (41), Silindile Pearl Mathebula (42), and her company, MPM Shutterhands Construction cc on Tuesday, 10 September 2024. Their appearance followed their arrest by the Hawks Nelspruit based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on Monday, 09 September for contravening the provisions of Section 235(1)(d) of the Tax Administration Act, Act 28 of 2011. They were released on R2000-00 bail each.
It is alleged that, during 2015 to 2017, the company MPM Shutterhands Construction cc, referred as accused no 1, registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and South African Revenue Services (SARS) for income tax purposes. Accused no 2, Silindile Pearl Mathebula is registered as a director of the company together with her father Sigegede Aaron Mathebula.
It is further alleged that, the directors of the company colluded with Bongani Mkhatshwa, referred to as accused no 3, who submitted fraudulent tax returns to SARS. Through misrepresentation claiming value added tax refunds, prejudicing and causing an actual loss to the revenue service to the amount of R990 000.00, which was shared amongst the accused. Further, R 5 300 000.00 was fraudulently claimed by the accused but was never paid by SARS.
Mathebula was arrested and appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate court on Tuesday, 01 October 2024, together with his accomplices. He was released on R1000 bail and their case was postponed to 13 November 2024 for further investigation.
What is Fraud? “Fraud” is any activity that relies on deception in order to achieve a gain. Fraud becomes a crime when it is a “knowing misrepresentation of the truth or concealment of a material fact to induce another to act to his or her detriment” (Black’s Law Dictionary). In other words, if you lie in order to deprive a person or organization of their money or property, you’re committing fraud.