Amid police raids, Shauwn Mkhize's sister pleads for privacy over tax evasion allegations

The sister of controversial businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize has asked for privacy amid police and taxman raiding their properties, seizing movable assets in reaction to their alleged tax evasion. 

Officials from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), accompanied by heavily armed police, brought huge trucks to the properties of Mkhize and her sister, Zandile Ngubo, in Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg this week.

They confiscated vehicles and other household assets. 

It was alleged that the sisters short-changed SARS to the tune of about R40 million during the purchase of the Bloemfontein Celtic FC, which was renamed Royal AM FC and registered with the Premier Soccer League.

This reporter visited Royal AM’s camp, Royal Ranch outside Pietermaritzburg, on Wednesday, where scores of police officers secured SARS officials who were loading goods into big trucks.

The property was still occupied by Royal AM players, who told this reporter that they were confused about the presence of police and trucks.  

Sources say the trucks were also brought to Mkhize’s house in Sandton, Johannesburg, and also at Ngubo’s house in Nkanyezini village outside Pietermaritzburg to load furniture.

When contacted about the raid in her house, Ngubo politely declined to comment.

“My brother, I don’t mix with journalists, and since we don’t know each other, please don’t ask me questions, as I am not a public figure and I am just a nobody.

“Please excuse me because I don’t speak to the media at all,” said Ngubo. 

 A source, who is close to Mkhize and Ngubo, said about 10 police vehicles came to Ngubo’s house and another 10 went to Sandton on Tuesday and Wednesday, where SARS took away assets. 

The monetary value of the assets seized remained unclear. 

Mkhize did not answer her phone and also did not respond to questions sent to her via WhatsApp. 

However, the sisters’ relative expressed concern about the number of police deployed to accompany SARS to the properties.

“There were 10 police vehicles in Johannesburg (Mkhize’s house), 10 in Pietermaritzburg (Royal Ranch) and another 10 in Nkanyezini (Ngubo’s house). 

“My concern is that if police can come out in big numbers for people accused of tax offences, meaning that South Africa has the police capacity, but why such number of police are not deployed to crime-riddled areas such as Inanda,” he said. 

Despite ignoring questions from this reporter, Mkhize had been on TV stations talking about her trouble with the law.

The club was thrown out of the professional ranks in April after failing to honour their Betway Premiership fixtures, sparked by mounting debts to SARS.

Mkhize’s marriage to her former husband, Sbu Mpisane, ended with a divorce at the Durban High Court in November last year. 

Another source close to Mpisane said Mkhize and Ngubo were left with a debt of millions of rand to SARS after they removed Mpisane from his estate, without his knowledge.

The source said SARS froze the bank accounts belonging to Ngubo, Mkhize, and Mkhize’s son, Andile Mpisane, last year.  

“The Mkhizes, Ngubos, Andile, Sbu Mpisane, and other relatives and close associates of Shauwn, who are doing business with her, were hauled before the SARS Commission of Inquiry for not paying their taxes. 

“Some of the companies that have amassed millions of rand have not been paying their taxes as far back as 2018,” said the source.

When asked to give details of the operation at Mkhize and Ngubo’s homes, SARS spokesperson Siphithi Sibeko referred this reporter to the November 21, 2024, Durban High Court order, which he said contained the details, including the number of people who were being investigated along with Mkhize. 

“I am not going to confirm anything other than that, just access the public document, which will answer all the questions you have sent to me,” said Sibeko. 

bongani.hans@inl.co.za