‘Muvhango’ creator Duma ka Ndlovu gets R100k bail in multi-million rand fraud case

Veteran producer Duma ka Ndlovu has been granted R100 000 bail following his arrest for alleged tax evasion of R26 million.

Ndlovu reportedly handed himself over to the police on Monday, 30 September and he appeared at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 1 October.

VETERAN PRODUCER DUMA KA NDLOVU APPEARS IN COURT FOR ALLEGED TAX EVASION

Ndlovu, who created Muvhango, and also wrote other award-winning soap operas such as Uzalo, and Imbewu: The Seed allegedly misrepresented both his personal and corporate tax affairs to the South African Revenue Services (SARS) for years. As a result, the taxman lost approximately R26 million.

Ndlovu is accused alongside former tax practitioners Rodney Mutsharini and Maxwell Mloyi who allegedly helped him to misrepresent his tax affairs. The two were also granted R50 000 bail each.

Earlier on Tuesday, the court dismissed Ndlovu’s plea for the media to be barred from court proceedings.

Ndlovu said this was to protect his family, especially children because his affairs will now be made public.

The matter was postponed to 11 November for further investigations.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Crime spokesperson Henry Mamothame said Bain and Company, was contracted by SARS to render services. In turn, the company allegedly sub-contracted Ambrobite (Pty) Ltd, now known as Kanoboya Consulting (Pty) Ltd, owned by ka Ndlovu, to render strategic and project management services between the period November 2013 to September 2016.

Mamothame said this was misrepresented by ka Ndlovu and his tax practitioner, Maxwell Mloyi, when submitting tax returns to SARS. Mloyi together with Ndlovu declared to SARS that the company was dormant and that it never traded during the tax period 2013 to 2017, resulting in a financial loss to SARS.

WHAT ARE THE BAIL CONDITIONS?

The court ordered Mloyi and Mutsharini to:

• Surrender their travel documents
• Report to their nearest police stations every Monday.
• Should they wish to travel outside the borders of the country they should make an application with the court.

Meanwhile, Duma ka Ndlovu was ordered to:

Report to a police at Sandton police station every Monday or Wednesday.

Notify the clerk of the court of his KwaZulu -Natal change of address.

Submit an application to the court should he desire to travel outside the boarders of South Africa.

NATIONAL ORDER NOMINATION WITHDRAWN

In April 2023, Ndlovu, broadcaster Freek Robinson and explorer Mike Horne all had their nominations for National Orders withdrawn by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa bestows on citizens and eminent foreign nationals.

Ndlovu was set to be bestowed with the prestigious Order Of Ikhamanga for his work in the television and film industry.

The ANC Veterans League (ANCVL) had earlier called on Ramaphosa to reconsider giving Ndlovu an award, due to being implicated in state capture at SARS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT DUMA NDLOVU’S ARREST?

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