Cape Town – The ANC in the province has launched an internal probe into allegations of fraud and theft levelled against Southern Cape regional secretary Major Sokopo. He is accused of defrauding several local municipalities and the SA Revenue Services (Sars) of over R16 million.
Sokopo, 42, with his co-accused Ndileka Mfunda, 49, appeared in the George Magistrate’s Court last week on charges of theft and fraud in contravention of the VAT Act, as well as the Tax Administration Act.“They are expected to make a follow-up appearance in the same court on November 24,” Captain Lloyd Ramovha said.
Sokopo and Mfunda was apprehended by the Hawks’ commercial crimes unit last month following a lengthy internal Sars investigations relating to unclaimed Input VAT claims by several Western Cape municipalities from 2009 till 2011.
It is alleged a tax consulting company under the duo’s directorships was contracted by the Oudtshoorn, Plettenberg Bay and Ventersdorp municipalities to assist in recovering unclaimed Input VAT for these periods and, in return, the entity was paid lucratively for each successful tax recovery made, the Hawks said.
According to the unit, the investigation laid bare the fact that said entity was somehow allegedly inflating their VAT assessment figures as it stood to benefit directly.
“Claims were somehow allegedly repeatedly submitted, even on items already claimed in previous periods, or claimed on items which are prohibited by the VAT Act, resulting in the Receiver of Revenue suffering losses to the tune of approximately R16m.”
ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs stressed the party considered the allegations very serious and would not hesitate to act.
Jacobs said they were in discussions with Sokopo to obtain clarity about the charges, before taking appropriate action.
He said the party stood firm against criminal activities, regardless of the political affiliation of the perpetrators.
‘The allegations and charges brought against a regional leader of the ANC in the Western Cape are serious and the organisation will thus be watching the court proceedings closely.
“We understand that he denies the charges which relate to his private business. We respect the judicial process and Sokopo’s right to be presumed innocent at this stage,” Jacobs said.
He said they would obtain further information and re-assess their position if necessary.
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