Sars accuses Malema of lying, hits him with R14m bill – report

Julius Malema (Jerusha Sukhdeo-Raath, News24)
Julius Malema (Jerusha Sukhdeo-Raath, News24)

Pretoria – The SA Revenue Service (Sars) has accused Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema of lying about his source of income and hit him with an additional R14m tax bill, the Sunday Times reported.

This was according to court papers filed in the North Gauteng High Court by Sars which has launched an application for Malema’s final sequestration.

According to the report, Sars, in the court papers explaining why it had dumped its deal with Malema, said he had lied about the source of the funds used to settle part of his tax bill.

It also said Malema tried to dodge paying donation tax and had received money from questionable sources to settle the R18m tax bill, which was reduced to R7.2m in a deal in May last year.

The case returns to court in June.

If the court grants the final order Malema will lose his Member of Parliament position, the Sunday Times reported.

In March, Malema’s attorney, Tumi Mokoena, said Sars handed in an affidavit to say Malema had not complied with an agreement.

But, he said, in terms of an agreement with Sars, Malema had paid the amount, Sapa reported at the time.

“Which is surprising because they have received the full payments. They have raised issues which we think do not matter,” he said after the brief proceedings.

“We just think this is an attempt by Sars to prolong the matter for political reasons. We believe that the agreement should have been confirmed and that there should not be a need for us to come to court again.”

In August last year, Malema denied media reports that alleged cigarette smuggler Adriano Mazzotti was helping him pay his tax bill.

At the time, City Press reported that “impeccable sources” told the newspaper that Mazzotti was a generous financial donor to Malema and may well be the source of the repayments.

Mazzotti, a director of cigarette company Carnilinx, is also under investigation by Sars for smuggling and tax evasion.

Mazzotti told City Press that he was “good friends” with Malema.

According to court papers, Malema owed Sars R16m, plus interest, after failing to submit tax returns between 2006 and 2010.