SCHALK SNR SENTENCED

Former Springbok Rugby player, Schalk Burger Senior has been convicted of 14 counts relating to failure to submit tax returns and has been slapped with a R56 000 fine or 112 months imprisonment.

According to Eric Ntabazalila, National Prosecuting Authority, Regional Communications Manager, Burger had failed to submit tax returns for his company, Welbedacht Wines (PTY) in Wellington.

“The Paarl Magistrates Court has sentenced former Springbok rugby player, Schalk Willem Petrus Burger, and his company, Welbedacht Wines (Pty) Ltd, following their conviction for their failure to submit Value Added Tax, Pay as You Earn and Income Tax Returns,” Ntabazalila explained.

He said the court convicted the company for its failure to submit a VAT201 return for the period 02/2023, an EMP201 return for the period 03/2023 and sentenced it to a fine of R6 000 on each count, which was wholly suspended for five years.

He added that Burger, 69, was convicted on 14 counts, which include his failure to submit a VAT201 return for the period 02/2023, an EMP201 return for the period 03/2023 and IT12 Income Tax returns for the period of 2011 to 2022. He was fined R6 000 or 12-months imprisonment on each count, of which R2 000 or four months imprisonment was suspended for five years. 

Ntabazalila further explained that Burger entered into a Section 105A plea and sentence agreement with the State.  

He said: “The court confirmed the agreement and convicted and sentenced the accused accordingly.

"According to the agreement the accused admitted that Welbedacht Wines (Pty) Ltd was registered for Value Added Tax (VAT, with liability date being 1 September 2004, as well as for Pay As you Earn (PAYE) with liability date being 1 January 2010 at the Paarl Office of the South African Revenue Services (SARS) with Burger as its public officer for all the tax obligations with SARS. Burger failed to submit the returns on behalf of the company."

He said Burger’s son, Christiaan Francois Burger, was convicted and sentenced on 12 counts of failing to submit his IT12 personal Income Tax returns for the period 2011 - 2022 last month.