Businessman in hot water after receiving R1.4 million from SARS through misrepresentations

Mbongiseni Ngomane, aged 34, has been released on bail after a warrant of arrest was issued against him for allegedly defrauding the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said the crime was committed in 2022 through misrepresentations of the company's income to SARS.

“According to information, Ngomane's misrepresentation led to SARS suffering an actual loss of R1,424,872. Upon receiving a tax refund from SARS, Ngomane allegedly transferred an amount of R200,000 to KC The Princess (Pty) Ltd whose sole director was Khensani Mnisi, 59,” said Nkosi.

Mnisi also transferred money to five different recipients listed by the Hawks as Phindile Shabangu, 30; Dorren Simelane, 49; Thobile Ngomane, 35; Khanyisile Dlamini-Phenyane, 50; and Bafana Singwane, 50.

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The Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation unit, based in Nelspruit, executed the warrant of arrest, and all suspects appeared before the Nelspruit Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday.

Ngomane was released on R2,000 bail while his co-accused were released on R500 bail each. 

The matter was postponed to 8 July 2025 for further investigations.

Last year, IOL reported that the Nelspruit Commercial Crime Court in Mpumalanga convicted and sentenced 44-year-old Mduduzi Steven Mashwama and his company MPG Mash Trading CC on charges of theft and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).

In July 2020, Mashwama and his company fraudulently submitted Value Added Tax claims and claimed undue VAT refunds of R166,850 from SARS.

“The matter was reported to the Hawks Nelspruit-based serious commercial crime investigation (unit) for further investigation. The investigation was finalised and the accused was summoned to appear in court on several occasion until he was sentenced on Tuesday,” Lieutenant Colonel Dineo Lucy Sekgotodi, Mpumalanga spokesperson for the Hawks said at the time.

Mashwama was accused number two in the court case.

On count one, of theft, Mashwama was sentenced to six years imprisonment which is wholly suspended for a period of five years on condition that he is not convicted of theft, fraud and or any offence involving misrepresentation committed during the period of suspension. 

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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