‘Nkandla architect’ pleads guilty to not paying taxes

THE SO-CALLED“Nkandla architect” has pleaded guilty to failing to submit his tax returns during the same period he was netting millions of rand building President Jacob Zuma’s private home.

Now self-employed, Minenhle Makhanya, 45, who scored R17 million out of theR240m contract to build massive extensions and “security features” to Zuma’s home, is claiming he has no money.

On Tuesday, magistrate Melanie de Jager told Makhanya taxes were paid not only “just to fund Nkandla and fancy cars”.

“The offence is very serious. Taxes fund state employees such as the courts. In order to do this people must pay their taxes. Without (tax) this could not be the beautiful country we live in. We need to keep our country going. (Not paying tax) is not for the privileged few.”

When Pinetown-based Makhanya was asked if he could afford a fine, he said he “would need to sell some tools”.

“The court has taken into account your personal circumstances. You pleaded guilty to the offence and did not waste the court’s time. Furthermore, it was taken into account that you are married, have children, your wife is the only one employed and you haven’t been receiving an income for the past 18 months. You have also since submitted the outstanding personal tax returns,” said De Jager.

Makhanya was fined R10 000 or six months imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years.

He said his failure to meet his tax obligations rested with his bookkeeper and he did not check if his bookkeeper had submitted his returns.

According to the charge sheet, “Sars has not received the accused’s income tax returns within a specified period for the years from 2008-2015”.

Makhanya is facing a civil court claim by the Special Investigating Unit in the Pietermaritzburg High Court. The unit, which acts on proclamations by the president, is seeking R155m from him for his alleged excessive spending on Zuma’s Nkandla homestead. – ANA