THE Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA) must be made to answer urgent questions following the Finance Minister’s revelations about the illicit cigarette trade, Tax Justice SA (TJSA) demands today. @TaxJustice_SA
Godongwana highlighted the growing menace of tax-evading tobacco and promised increased action to combat criminal manufacturers who are robbing the country of billions of rand.
“The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has cancelled the trading licences of three operators, liquidated another and has eight cases lined up for criminal prosecution, he added.
““FITA purports to represent the South African tobacco industry and says it opposes illicit trade, yet it is strangely silent about who these rogue operators might be.
““Meanwhile, cigarette manufacturers represented by FITA have mysteriously disappeared from its members list and some appear to have shut down completely without any explanation.
“If FITA is honestly fighting illicit trade, it is duty-bound to call out members who are operating illegally and flooding the market with tax-evading cigarettes that rob the fiscus and destroy legitimate businesses.
“Undercover investigations carried out by TJSA over the last 15 months found huge volumes of cigarettes being sold across the country at prices that mean due taxes are not being paid. A large proportion of these illicit cigarettes were brands belonging to FITA members.
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When we asked FITA to explain how their members’ brands were involved, they refused to comment. When we approached the members directly, it appeared they had shut down or moved their operations.
“Why is FITA choosing to stay silent about this? What has it got to hide? The Min revealed that R350m worth of illicit tobacco has been seized during the pandemic, but he knows – & FITA knows – that this is just a fraction of the billions being plundered by criminal manufacturers
“As a matter of urgency, FITA must be made to answer if any of its members – current or former – are implicated or among the rogue operators listed by Mr Godongwana.
“The Minister’s speech has been dubbed the Good News budget, but the best news for our economy would be a national inquiry into the industry that FITA claims to represent.”
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“Management of the @SAPoliceService has lauded the persistent efforts of the CI National Anti-Kidnapping Task Team following the arrest of a 37-year-old man believed to be the mastermind and alleged kingpin behind a spate of high profile kidnappings where a ransom was demanded…
“…in various parts of Gauteng as well as in Maputo, Mozambique.
“On Wednesday afternoon, an intelligence driven operation led the Task Team to an identified address in Brackenhurst where the team pounced on the alleged kingpin and his three associates.
Two suspects, Michelle Pillay (37) -left-
and Khatiya Patel (42) appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court today facing charges of fraud and money laundering.
“It is alleged that between 2012 and 2019, Techno Genius Director, Adriaan Pillay (38) and his business partner Mohamed Ismail Adamjee (44) , whom at the time was a Cell C executive, reported to have colluded and inflated rates for IT & network services required by Cell C…
…which resulted in an actual loss of over R130 million.
Hundreds of vehicles have passed through the Zwartkop Raceway drive thru vaccination site.
By 6pm, there were still scores of cars waiting in the queue.
The drive thru will be open until 9pm.
The site will open from 9am to 5pm tomorrow and on Sunday.
“The turnout has been massive. The opening of the registration to over 18s saw a flood of people streaming to the drive thru. Within the first 90 minutes, 50 between the ages of 18 and 34 got their jabs,” said Yusuf Abramjee who is overseeing the site.
Police have arrested a suspect following the discovery of the body of teacher Naadira Vanker in a shallow grave south of JHB. Police are searching for a second suspect.
“Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has commended a team of police officers who on Tues evening, 27 April 2021 arrested a 36-year-old man and discovered the body of a woman who was reportedly abducted in Lenasia South in a shallow grave at Phumlamqashi.
“It is reported that on Thursday 22 April 2021 at approximately 06h00, a 31-year-old woman was abducted from her home by two men. The suspects are alleged to have then driven off in the victim's vehicle that was later found abandoned in Ennerdale.