Sigegede Aaron Mathebula (68) appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 1 October 2024, following his arrest under a warrant issued during a previous court appearance involving three other accused: Bongani Mkhatshwa (41), Silindile Pearl Mathebula (42), and MPM Shutterhands Construction CC. These individuals were initially arrested by the Hawks Nelspruit-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit on 9 September 2024 for violating Section 235(1)(d) of the Tax Administration Act, Act 28 of 2011. They were released on R2,000 bail each.

The case Involves allegations from 2015 to 2017, during which MPM Shutterhands Construction CC, registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and the South African Revenue Service (SARS), submitted fraudulent tax returns. The company’s directors, Silindile Pearl Mathebula and her father, Sigegede Aaron Mathebula, allegedly colluded with Bongani Mkhatshwa to fraudulently claim value-added tax (VAT) refunds. This scheme caused an actual loss to SARS amounting to R990,000, with an additional R5.3 million claimed but never paid by SARS.

Sigegede Aaron Mathebula was released on R1,000 bail, and the case has been postponed to 13 November 2024 for further investigation.