After the South African Revenue Service (SARS) said it had no record of Hazim Mustafa’s dollars, which he allegedly used to purchase buffalo from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phal Phala farm, it issued another statement on Tuesday, 7 March, on the tax compliance status of Ramaphosa, Ntaba Nyoni Estate and the Ntaba Nyoni Feedlot.
READ: Ramaphosa saga: SARS unable to find record of Hazim Mustafa declaring $580k
SARS commissioner urges other high-profile leaders to disclose their tax compliance status
SARS said Ramaphosa and the companies have always cooperated fully during audits, and there has been no interference or resistance.
The revenue service confirmed the tax compliance of Ramaphosa and the companies, which have been scrutinised recently. SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter urged other politicians and societal leaders to also consider disclosing their tax compliance status to promote transparency.
“At no stage was I approached by President Ramaphosa, or anyone on his behalf, with any request related to his personal and/or the business entities in question.”
“In taking this exceptional step to disclose the tax status of the President, with his written consent, SARS would also encourage other high-profile political office bearers and leaders in society to consider taking this proactive step as part of their commitment to transparency. This would go a long way towards building confidence in our country’s institutions,” said Kieswetter.
ActionSA leader questions whether Mustafa transaction was properly recorded and accounted for
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba noted Kieswetter’s remarks and said they do not negate the legitimate concerns over the non-disclosure of the US dollars allegedly stolen from a couch at the Phala Phala farm in 2020.
“While Kieswetter spoke broadly to the President’s tax compliance, he did not specifically address the question of whether the sale involving Mustafa was correctly recorded and accounted for as part of the farm’s tax return. Failure to have done so would amount to tax evasion.
“Moreover, Kieswetter’s statement does not negate the fact that the cash was not deposited into a South African bank account in accordance with our foreign exchange regulations,” said Mashaba.
As previously reported, a Dubai-based Sudanese businessman claimed he declared the $580 000 (about R10 million) that he brought into the country in December 2019.
SARS HAS NO RECORD OF PHALA PHALA DOLLARS
This week SARS revealed it could not find any record of this declaration in response to a PAIA request from DA Leader John Steenhuisen.
Hazim allegedly bought buffalo from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm and paid in cash. The money was later stolen from a couch where it was stored at the farm in 2020.
READ: Who is Hazim Mustafa? Three things to know about Ramaphosa’s buffalo buyer
When former spy boss Arthur Fraser blew the lid on the Phala Phala burglary in 2022, Parliament appointed an Independent Section 89 panel to investigate the allegations.
The panel found prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa violated his Constitutional oath and broke anto]i-corruption laws by failing to report the burglary.
The ANC majority in Parliament ensured that the report was not adopted in Parliament, and Ramaphosa applied for direct access to the Constitutional Court to have the report reviewed and set aside.
READ MORE: ‘$580k is nothing for a businessman like me’ – Ramaphosa’s buffalo buyer says he brought the cash through the airport
Last week, the Constitutional Court dismissed Ramaphosa’s application, and he will have to turn to a lower court to challenge the report.
“With the Constitutional Court having dismissed the President’s request for direct access to the apex court to take the report on the review, the findings stand. Neither the remarks by Kieswetter, nor the ANC’s complicity in shielding the Ramaphosa from accountability negate that fact.
“President Ramaphosa remains a deeply compromised individual. South Africans deserve a president whose leadership is beyond reproach, and after Jacob Zuma, now Ramaphosa, it is clear that ethical leadership cannot be found in the ANC,” said Mashaba.
READ: Ramaphosa survives vote and won’t face impeachment inquiry
After the SARS revelation about Mustafa, the Economic Freedom Fighters accused Ramaphosa of tax evasion and called for him to resign.
READ MORE: ‘Constitutional delinquent’: EFF accuses Ramaphosa of tax evasion, reiterates call for him to resign
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