The taxman has slapped one of South Africa’s most celebrated female soccer agents, Mmatsatsi Gift Sefalafala, with a tax bill of more than R8.4-million.
The debilitating quantum became known after the South African Revenue Service (Sars) applied for judgment at the Johannesburg High Court last week against Sefalafala, who is credited with soccer star Percy Tau’s ground-breaking move to English Premier League outfit Brighton and Hove Albion about five years ago.
According to the application papers Sunday World has seen, Sefalafala, who was also an agent for former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder-turned-soccer analyst Hlompho Kekana, initially owed Sars about R6.1-million in unpaid personal income tax. But the debt has ballooned to more than R 8.4-million
after Sars imposed more than R2.2-million in penalties.
Before applying for the default judgment against her, Sars wrote Sefalafala a final letter of demand on August 23, advising her to pay the money owed or enter into a payment plan with the receiver of revenue.
The taxman threatened to auction Sefalafala’s assets if she 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 Sefalafala to apply within 10 business days from the date of issuance to arrange for payment of the debt in instalments if she was unable to pay the full amount.
Sefalafala, a practicing attorney, was also advised to apply for suspension of the debt if she 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 Sefalafala that if she did not comply with its demands, it would go to court to seek an order to attach and auction off her 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 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 your 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,” the papers read.
We tried to get a response from Sefalafala, but she didn’t respond to our phone calls or text messages.
