Latest news with #R5.9
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Chiefs star hit with R6.1 million tax bill
Sirino has been in South Africa since joining Sundowns in January 2018. Kaizer Chiefs' Uruguayan forward Gaston Sirino is in hot water with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), according to a report from Sunday World. ALSO READ: Chiefs and Pirates set for European camps The news website claims that SARS have applied for a default judgement against Sirino in the Johannesburg High Court. Millions in tax owed by Chiefs' Sirino? SARS are reportedly claiming that Sirino owes them R5.9 million in unpaid taxes, which with interest and penalties adds up to R6.1 million. 'According to the records of the South African Revenue Service, you have failed to pay your tax debt for one or more tax years and tax periods,' reads a letter from SARS, according to the Sunday World. 'You are requested to make full payment within 10 days from the date of this letter of demand. 'Failure to make full payment or use the above remedies may result in the following actions and possibly others: Sars may appoint any third party who presently or in the future will owe you money or hold money for you to settle your tax debt with this money. 'A civil judgment is being entered against you, in which case a warrant of execution may be issued for the sheriff of the court to attach and sell your assets. 'If you are a natural person, you may apply for a reduction of the amount to be paid to Sars based on you and your dependents' basic living expenses. 'If you are a non-natural person, you may apply for a reduction of the amount to be paid to Sars based on serious financial hardship,' they concluded. SA citizen Sirino has been in South Africa since joining Sundowns in January 2018. He is now a South African citizen, getting his passport in 2023. ALSO READ: Chiefs set to renew pursuit of Sundowns outcast After an extremely successful spell with Sundowns, he moved to Chiefs at the start of last season. He had a mixed campaign with Amakhosi, who won the Nedbank Cup but finished tenth in the Betway Premiership.
The South African
06-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
PSL boss 'Ace' Ncobo faces fraud and money laundering charges
PSL General Manager and former FIFA referee Aldrin Andile Baldwin 'Ace' Ncobo and his wife, Salomie Twaise Ncobo, appeared in the Bellville Magistrates Court on Monday, on fraud and money laundering charges tied to over R15 million in misappropriated funds. The couple faces three counts of fraud and one of money laundering related to donations made by the Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa SOC Limited (PetroSA) for school infrastructure projects in the Eastern Cape. According to the State, the accused orchestrated a scheme to secure PetroSA funding under false pretenses, diverting funds for personal gain and entities linked to them. PetroSA, through its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, had committed millions to aid disadvantaged schools, focusing on educational facilities, health, community enhancement, and environmental initiatives. In 2008, Gangatha Junior Secondary School applied for funding to upgrade its facilities. PetroSA agreed to a R13 million donation to construct classrooms, labs, and other infrastructure. An unregistered trust – King's Gangatha Building Trust – was created to facilitate the project, with Ncobo allegedly assuming control despite having no official appointment by the school. Construction began in November 2008 and ended in September 2009. However, a later investigation by PetroSA's Risk and Compliance Department found that the quality of work was subpar and valued at only R5.9 million, far below the R13 million disbursed. Remedial work was estimated to cost an additional R398 363. A similar pattern emerged in a separate project involving Nqadu Pre-Grade R School. PetroSA approved a R485 450 grant, with Salomie Ncobo as the contact. Ncobo claimed to be funding the work personally, but the school received no furniture or equipment. Submitted documentation, including board member details and signatures, was found to be falsified. Funds from both projects were allegedly funneled into various accounts connected to Ncobo, including Gangatha Projects, Eseswe Projects, and the Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute – all of which are unregistered entities. Only Ncobo Development ILE Projects was found to be properly registered, with Ncobo holding full ownership. The couple was arrested and granted bail, with Aldrin Ncobo posting R50 000 and Salomie Ncobo R30 000. The case has been postponed to 29 May 2025 for further investigation. PetroSA continues to assess the financial damage, which includes an additional R20 093 required to remedy defects at Nqadu Pre-Grade R School. In a statement shared on Facebook, 'Ace' Ncobo proclaimed his and his wife's innocence, asserting that they believed the prosecution is malicious in nature. 1. Although we believe that this is a malicious prosecution, we welcome the decision of the NPA to carry out its constitutional duties without favour. 2. We appreciate the overwhelming messages of support and wish to assure our family, friends, and the supportive public that their support is not misplaced. We have never been involved in any criminal conduct in all the projects our company did. 3. All projects we were appointed to do were completed in record time and to the highest standards. 4. The particular project which is made part of this matter is a school that we built almost two decades ago. It still stands proudly as an asset of that community. 5. We have full confidence in the justice system of our country, and we know that the court will judge for itself that this matter should never have been brought before it in the first place. 6. We humbly request to be given space to deal with this matter without any further public or media engagements beyond this statement. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
06-05-2025
- IOL News
How ex-FIFA referee and wife allegedly embezzled R13 million in PetroSA scandal
General Manager of the Premier Soccer League and former international referee, Andile Ncobo, and his wife, Salomie, appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court in the Western Cape. They are facing fraud and money laundering charges for allegedly embezzling millions of rand for a project in the Eastern Cape. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Media Premier Soccer League General Manager and former FIFA referee, Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo, and his wife, Salomie Twaise Ncobo, have been granted R50 000 and R30 000 bail respectively, after they briefly appeared in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Monday. They were charged with fraud and money laundering in connection with an Eastern Cape corporate social investment (CSI) programme. The couple was arrested following an investigation by the Hawks into the alleged misappropriation of funds earmarked for school infrastructure development. The charges stem from a PetroSA initiative intended to assist under-resourced schools, including Gangatha Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Nqadu Pre-Grade R School. According to Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani, the accused allegedly submitted fraudulent proposals to PetroSA, falsely claiming that Gangatha JSS required infrastructure funding. The proposals were supported by forged trust deeds and donor documents, creating the impression that the unregistered 'Gangatha Projects' was a legitimate entity tasked with the school's development. 'The PetroSA CSI programme focused on education, health, community upliftment, and environmental initiatives,' he said. 'During 2008, Gangatha JSS applied for funding to construct new classrooms, admin offices, laboratories, a sports field, and security fencing.' Although PetroSA approved the R13 million request, the school's governing body reportedly never authorised Ncobo to represent them or oversee the construction. Despite this, he allegedly managed the project from November 2008 until its completion in September 2009. When concerns about irregularities in the CSI programme surfaced, PetroSA commissioned quantity surveyors to assess the Gangatha project. Their report revealed that construction materials and services were of substandard quality and valued at only R5.9 million (VAT inclusive), far less than the R13 million disbursed. The report also indicated that it would cost PetroSA an additional R398,363 to remedy defects. In a separate incident, Ntabazalila said, Nqadu Pre-Grade R School applied to PetroSA for funding in 2008, with Ncobo's wife listed as the contact person. PetroSA approved a grant of R485 450, which was paid into the Great Kei bank account. Ncobo allegedly informed the principal he was funding the pre-school construction himself. However, no furniture or learning materials were delivered, and individuals listed as board members in the funding application denied any affiliation with the school or trust, including denying the authenticity of their signatures. Further investigations revealed that funds totalling R15.19 million were laundered through a network of unregistered entities: Gangatha Projects, Eseswe Projects, the Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute, and a registered company — Ace Ncobo Development ILE Projects Close Corporation — in which Ncobo holds a 100% stake. The NPA confirmed that PetroSA launched an internal investigation after its investments failed to yield results. Surveyors later estimated that rectifying issues at Nqadu Pre-Grade R School would cost PetroSA a further R20 093, inclusive of VAT. The case was postponed to May 29 for further investigation. Cape Times 'PetroSA, relying on these representations, paid R13 million into the Gangatha JSS project. However, the trust deed associated with the so-called King's Gangatha Building Trust was never registered, and the signatures were allegedly falsified,' Hani said. The State alleges that approximately R13 million was paid into a bank account controlled by the accused through a scheme involving falsified documents, fictitious or unregistered entities, and the laundering of funds through personal and affiliated accounts. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila detailed how Ncobo and his wife allegedly devised a plan to enrich themselves, their family members, and related entities.
The Citizen
05-05-2025
- The Citizen
PSL's Ace Ncobo and wife granted bail in fraud and money laundering case
Their case has been postponed until 29 May for further investigation. Former Fifa referee Andile Ncobo and his wife appear in the Belville Magistrate's Court in Cape Town on 5 May 2025. Picture: NPA Premier Soccer League general manager Andile Ncobo and his wife, Salomie, have been granted bail after appearing on fraud and money laundering charges at the Bellville Magistrate's Court today. The couple is facing three counts of fraud and money laundering relating to a R15 million donation towards school construction projects in the Eastern Cape. After a brief court appearance, Ncobo – popularly known as Ace – was granted R50 000 bail and his wife R30 000. CSI programme fraud The state is accusing the pair of embarking on a scheme to fraudulently acquire money from Petroleum Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa SOC Limited (PetroSA) in a way that favoured them, their family members, and entities they had a vested interest in. PetroSA ran a corporate social investment (CSI) programme that was responsible for administering and granting monetary donations to needy and disadvantaged schools, institutions or disaster management programmes. The programme focused on education, health, community enhancement and/or environment. ALSO READ: R2 million laptop saga triggers disciplinary action in Mpumalanga education department National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said in 2008, Gangatha Junior Secondary School applied for a donation to build new furnished and equipped computer and science laboratories, classrooms, and an administration block, as well as ablution facilities. The donation would also go towards developing the sports field and erecting a security fence. R13-million agreement 'PetroSA entered into an agreement to donate R13 million to rebuild the school. A King's Gangatha Building Trust, unregistered, was established to facilitate the funding and rebuilding of the school,' Ntabazalila said. He said Ncobo oversaw and managed the construction, which started in November 2008 and was completed in September 2009. 'The school never authorised him to act as its representative or appointed him as a project manager to oversee and manage the construction,' he added. Irregularities assessed When allegations of irregularities and fraud within the CSI department surfaced, the state-owned oil and gas company appointed quantity surveyors to assess the value of the services rendered. ALSO READ: Free State asbestos trial: Investigating officer denies misleading US over Cholota's extradition The inspection revealed that the products used and the services rendered were of inferior quality and did not correspond with the amount of the donations made. The costs reportedly amounted to R5.9 million inclusive of 14% Value Added Tax (VAT). According to the NPA, it was established that it would cost PetroSA a further R398 363 inclusive of 14% VAT to remedy the defects. The State further alleges that Ncobo made several misrepresentations to PetroSA when the King's Gangatha Building Trust and other supporting documentation were submitted to their offices to substantiate the application and for approval for the donation. Nqadu Pre-Grade R School Ntabazalila said in another project, Nqadu Pre-Grade R School approached PetroSA for a donation to build a new pre-school in 2008. The application was finalised, and Ncobo's wife was allegedly the contact person. PetroSA approved the request and paid R485 450 into a Great Kei, Eastern Cape, bank account. ALSO READ: 11 accused in Sassa R260 million fraud case to remain behind bars 'Accused one informed the school principal that he was building the pre-school with his own money. He oversaw the construction, but no furniture or educational equipment was delivered to the school,' Ntabazalila. 'The board members appearing on the documentation submitted to PetroSA during the application for funding denied being board members and disputed signatures purported to be theirs.' PetroSA launches internal investigation After discovering that their investment at the various schools or entities where the accused were involved did not yield the intended results, PetroSA lodged an internal investigation through their Risk and Compliance Department. The quantity surveyors reportedly established that it would cost the company a further R20 093 inclusive of 14% VAT to remedy the defects at the pre-school. Money laundering charge The money laundering charge relates to the distribution of R15.9 million to the bank accounts of Gangatha Projects, Eseswe Projects, Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute and Aldrin Andile Baldwin Development ILE PR. 'Companies and Intellectual Property Commission records reveal that Gangatha Projects was not a registered entity. Ace Ncobo Development ILE Projects Close Corporation was registered, and the accused had a 100% interest in it. Eseswe Projects and Aldrin Andile Baldwin Ncobo Charity Institute were not registered entities,' Ntabazalila said. ALSO READ: Justice department dismisses 54 officials in major crackdown The Ncobos respond In a statement released on Ncobo's Facebook profile following the couple's appearance in court, the former match official said they welcomed the NPA's decision to exercise its constitutional duties without favour, albeit malicious. 'We appreciate the overwhelming messages of support and wish to assure our family, friends, and the supportive public that their support is not misplaced. We have never been involved in any criminal conduct in all the projects our company did,' Ncobo wrote. 'All projects we were appointed to do were completed in record time and to the highest standards. The particular project which is made part of this matter is a school that we built almost two decades ago. It still stands proudly as an asset of that community,' he added. Ncobo said they have full confidence in the country's justice system and know that the court will judge for itself that this matter should never have been brought before it in the first place. 'We humbly request to be given space to deal with this matter without any further public or media engagements beyond this statement.' Their case was postponed until 29 May for further investigation. NOW READ: Warning: watch out for scammers posing as police
