Businessman Dali Tambo has become one of the prominent South African icons who has found themselves on the wrong side of the taxman.
Sunday World can exclusively reveal that Tambo, who is the son of the late ANC veterans Oliver and Adelaide Tambo, owes the South African Revenue Service (Sars) more than R1.7-million in unpaid personal income tax.
Among revered public figures who have rubbed the taxman the wrong way are legal eagle Adv Dali Mpofu SC, DJ Sbu and DJ Ganyani Tshabalala to mention but a few.
News that the Sars is demanding the prodigious quantum from Tambo came to light after the receiver of revenue applied for judgment against him in the Johannesburg High Court last week after Tambo failed to settle the debt.
According to the application, which Sunday World has seen, Tambo initially owed Sars more than R1.2-million, but the amount ballooned to more than R1.6-million after the debt incurred more than R450 000 in interest. Sars also imposed over R39 000 in penalties on the capital debt Tambo owed.
Before applying for the default judgment against Tambo, who produced and presented a popular television talk show titled People of the South, Sars wrote him a final letter of demand on April 3, advising him to pay the debt or enter into a payment plan with the receiver of revenue to settle it.
At that time, the debt was just over R1-million.
The taxman threatened to auction Tambo’s assets if he failed to do so.
“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… you are requested to make full payment within 10 days from the date of this letter of demand,” read the letter.
In the letter, Sars advised Tambo to apply within 10 business days from the date of issuance to arrange to pay the debt in instalments if he was unable to pay the full amount.
The eloquent talk show host was also advised to apply for suspension of the debt if he intended to submit or had submitted a formal dispute or compromise of a portion of the tax, where this would provide a higher return to the fund than liquidation, sequestration or other collection measures.
Sars informed Tambo that if he did not comply with its demands, it would go to court to seek an order to attach and auction off his assets.
“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 judgement 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 your and your dependants’ 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,” the papers read.
Sunday World’s attempts to solicit a comment from Tambo drew blanks.
