Former Springbok Schalk Burger fined for tax evasion
The court found Burger guilty on 14 counts related to the non-submission of VAT, PAYE, and personal income tax returns.
He was ordered to pay R6 000 per count, or serve 12 months in prison for each, with R2 000 (four months) suspended on each count for five years.
The total fine amounts to R56 000, with an additional R28 000 suspended.
Welbedacht Wines received two separate fines of R6 000 each for failing to submit a VAT return for February 2023 and an employer PAYE declaration for March 2023.
Burger entered a plea and sentence agreement with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), acknowledging that the outstanding returns – spanning more than a decade – were only filed after criminal proceedings had begun.
He has arranged to pay off the fine in monthly instalments, starting with R6 000 and ending with a final payment of R8 000.
His son, Christiaan Francois Burger, also faced charges for failing to submit personal income tax returns from 2011 to 2022.
He was fined R48 000, or 96 months in prison, with R24 000 suspended.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila warned that the matter serves as a reminder to the public during the current tax season:
'Failure to file income tax returns will not be accepted. This is an offence that affects the fiscus.'
Schalk Burger senior played six Tests for the Springboks between 1984 and 1986. Full names: Schalk Willem Petrus Date of birth: 6 October 1955 Place of birth: Cape Town School: Paarl Gimnasium Springbok #535 Physical: 1.95m, 97kg Test summary: Tests: 6 Tries: 0 First Test: 2 Jun 1984 – Lock against England at Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Last Test: 31 May 1986 – Lock against NZ Cavaliers at Ellis Park, Johannesburg Test history Date Position Opponent Venue Result 2 June 1984 Lock England Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth Won 33-15 9 June 1984 Lock England Ellis Park, Johannesburg Won 35-9 10 May 1986 Lock NZ Cavaliers Newlands, Cape Town Won 21-15 17 May 1986 Lock NZ Cavaliers Kings Park, Durban Lost 19-18 24 May 1986 Lock NZ Cavaliers Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Won 33-18 31 May 1986 Lock NZ Cavaliers Ellis Park, Johannesburg Won 24-10
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