Witbank: A couple and the husband’s sister have been released on a combined bail of R15,000 following a lengthy investigation into alleged tax fraud. The Hawks Middelburg-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team secured a warrant of arrest against the three family members after a four-year inquiry.

According to South African Police Service, the three accused individuals, 60-year-old Petrus Moyane, his 56-year-old wife Nombeko Moyane, and his 57-year-old sister Nombulelo Moyane, allegedly misrepresented their company’s tax returns over three consecutive years, from 2013 to 2015. This misrepresentation resulted in an actual loss of R641,672.25 to the South African Revenue Service (SARS).

The case was initially reported to the Witbank SAPS in November 2020, and the case docket was subsequently transferred to the Hawks for further investigation. The investigation culminated in the execution of a warrant of arrest on Friday, 14 February 2025. The trio appeared briefly in court and were released on R5,000 bail each, with instructions to appear again on 07 March 2025.

The Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, emphasized the collaboration between the Hawks and SARS to tackle tax evasion and fraudulent activities. He urged individuals and companies to fulfill legal obligations and maintain integrity when submitting tax returns.