Two co-directors of a Bloemfontein-based company, PPK Engineering and Construction, stand accused of tax evasion. Molefi Nephthali Tloome (49), a South African, and Eguleme Dee Ebeye (53), who is Nigerian, appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 11 July, facing a charge of contravening the Tax Administration Act.
Ebeye is the accountant of the company. The alleged tax violation matter against the business partners is the culmination of probing by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) and the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team in Bloemfontein.
Tloome
Capt. Christopher Singo, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, said preliminary investigation had uncovered the alleged submission of false value added tax (VAT) 201 returns.
“The incident took place between 2018 and 2020. These fraudulent activities resulted in Sars being prejudiced and suffering a total loss of more than R1,2 million,” said Singo.
Tloome and Ebeye appeared in court hours after being apprehended on Thursday. They were granted bail of R1 500 and R2 500, respectively, and are expected to reappear in court on 2 August.
