Ex-SARS manager faces tax fraud charges

A former SARS manager in the Eastern Cape has been accused of tax fraud worth R2m. Bayanda Mehlala, 38, appeared in the East London magistrate’s court on Friday and was released on R10,000 bail. Mehlala allegedly submitted false tax returns and registered two companies to evade tax and obtain an undue VAT refund, causing SARS a total loss of over R2m as reported by the Sowetan Live.

The alleged fraud occurred in 2020 when Mehlala was a SARS operational manager.

The Hawks’ Eastern Cape serious commercial crime division is investigating the case.

Photo: Facebook / @South African Revenue Service (SARS)