Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, spokesperson for the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit (Hawks), announced the arrest of a third suspect on 14 January following a four-year investigation into tax fraud.

The suspect joins Daniel Maluleke, 57, and Martha Mphahlele, 43, who were arrested in August and September 2024, respectively. The trio allegedly colluded to defraud the South African Revenue Service (SARS) of R293,958.33, which was deposited into their individual bank accounts in 2015.

A Case Years in the Making

The matter was reported to authorities five years later, in 2020, and subsequently handed to the Hawks. “An intense investigation resulted in Maluleke’s arrest in August 2024, followed by Mphahlele in September 2024,” said Nkosi. Maluleke was released on R5,000 bail, while Mphahlele was granted free bail.

The third suspect’s arrest highlights the progress made in addressing financial crimes, said Major General Nico Gerber, head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga. “This investigation demonstrates our unit’s dedication to fighting financial crimes and holding offenders accountable,” he stated.

Larger Scale Fraud Attempts

In a related case, the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crime Court heard charges in November 2024 against company director Mmaseala Kekana, bookkeeper Richard Sekgantsha Makgasa, and their business, Mmarekhu Retail and Suppliers CC. The group allegedly attempted to defraud SARS of R1.6 million during the 2013/2014 tax period by submitting falsified income tax returns.

Provincial Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa stated that the accused acted with common intent to unlawfully obtain the refund. “They were about to be refunded R1,665,089 when the scheme was uncovered,” said Mmuroa.