The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed the North Gauteng High Court’s decision to strike Shauwn Mkhize’s urgent application seeking an order that its curator issues a letter assuring the National Soccer League (NSL) that her soccer club was financially sound to play its games.
The Royal AM FC has on several occasions, since the beginning of the soccer season, been unable to participate in the Betway Premiership and Nedbank Cup tournaments.
On January 29, it launched an urgent application at the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, against the curator, SARS, and the NSL by way of an urgent application, but the court had on February 5 struck the application from the roll for lack of urgency, with costs.
Commissioner Edward Kieswetter welcomed the court decision as a lesson that taxpayers should always meet their tax obligations.
“It boggles the mind that taxpayers will turn to courts with ease yet derelict in their responsibility to meet their obligations with similar enthusiasm.
“SARS is enjoined by the law to administer the law without fear or favour, and to ensure that all taxpayers who are expected to register, file, and pay their taxes do it with ease,” said Kieswetter in a statement released on Friday.
Both Mkhize and Royal AM general manager, Richard Makhoba, have not responded to the questions sent to them this week.
According to the statement, the club wanted the court to force the curator to issue a letter of comfort to the NSL, guaranteeing the club’s financial ability to fulfill its league fixtures.
“The application also sought to review the curator’s decision not to issue the letter of comfort as irrational, unreasonable, and unlawful.
“In the alternative, the club requested the court to compel the NSL to allow the club to play the remainder of the football season’s league and Nedbank Cup games,” read the statement.
Previously, the Durban, Pietermaritzburg, and Pretoria high courts ruled against the club and another of Mkhize’s entities, Shandi Trust, over Mkhize’s assets, including the club, which failed to pay the salaries of its players in December.
