Tax matter political, says Malema, as case further delayed
THE sequestration case against Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema is more than a matter of tax – it is political.
This is what Malema’s lawyer, Tumi Mokwena, said after Malema’s case was postponed to June in the Pretoria High Court yesterday.
Malema remains under provisional sequestration while the case was postponed for further papers to be filed before the matter is argued before court.
Mokwena said the EFF leader had paid what he had owed the SA Revenue Service (SARS) after a compromise agreement was reached by the parties last year.
Malema was expected to give reasons yesterday why the order should not be made final that his estate be provisionally sequestrated. The provisional order was made in February last year and extended in March, August and again in December.
SARS took Malema to court after he failed to pay a tax debt of R16.2-million related to assessed income tax, additional tax and interest for the years 2005 to 2011.
SARS said it established that Malema had failed to register his family trust, the Ratanang Family Trust, as a taxpayer
It said the review of Malema’s tax affairs and trust showed that he and the trust had received numerous amounts that were not declared in the relevant income tax returns. In some instances, considerable amounts were declared as non-taxable or exempt income.
Mokwena said Malema and he had expected the matter to be finalised yesterday.
“We were surprised to hear that SARS had filed an affidavit on Friday saying Mr Malema has not complied with the terms of the agreement he had reached with SARS.”
Mokwena said Malema had complied with the agreement and that he had paid what he owed SARS. He would not reveal how much the parties had agreed on.
“The last payment by Malema was made in November,” Mokwena said.
“This seems to be more than a tax matter. It is political.”
SARS spokeswoman Marika Muller refused to comment.
“The Tax Administration Act does not allow us to comment on the matter,” she said.