According to the Hawks’ media release, the accused, Thiyekile Hendrik Gulwa, appeared before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday 25 June 2021. He was convicted and sentenced on two counts of fraud to five years imprisonment, which will be suspended on the condition that the accused refunds SARS with an amount of R832 000 before 31 July 2025.

In the Hawks’ media release, it is alleged that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) had uncovered that between the period of 2015 and 2016, the 42-year-old Gulwa had fraudulent activities that cost SARS more than R800 000. On 19 October 2020, the accused was served with a court summons after the matter was reported to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Bloemfontein.

Gwala had made several court appearances prior to his conviction on Friday 25 June 2021.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi