FORMER Generations actress Sonia Mbele has pulled a no-show again in court on Thursday, 5 October.
She was set to appear in the Joburg Magistrates Court on charges of tax evasion alongside two other people, Yolisa Gqunta and Rebone Sesing, who are all directors of Real Housewives of South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
While the two accused were present, Sonia (46) didn’t show up. Instead, she sent a medical certificate citing ill-health. She also didn’t show up on Wednesday, 27 September, which was supposed to be her first court appearance.
They are facing 42 counts of not filing company income tax from 2019 to 2022, not filing their Value Added Tax (VAT) returns from 2020 to 2022 and also not filing their Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) from 2020 until 2022.
The matter has been postponed to 20 October.
Speaking on the matter, NPA regional spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwane said the court is giving Sonia the last chance to show up.
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“The case against Sonia Mbele and two others that relates to the contravention of the Tax Administration Act was postponed to 20 October 2023. This is for accused number three to also be in court.
“The court has granted the last opportunity to Miss Mbele to attend the proceeding in that it marked the postponement as final following her submission of a medical certificate for the second time, where she could not attend court, citing ill-heath,” she said.
Mjonondwane said they have raised concerns about Sonia’s no-show and claiming ill-health.
“We also raised concerns as the prosecution because we cannot have undue delays. We raised our concerns with the court and it then marked the matter final. So, we are hoping that on 20 October, all three accused will be present in court, so the matter can proceed.
“The criminal justice system cannot be held at ransom. Where there are legitimate and serious health concerns, we as the prosecution have requested that those should be declared to the court so we can know if these are legitimate health concerns that necessitate that this matter be delayed,” she said.
Sonia also released a statement explaining why she didn’t make it to court.
“You would all remember Sonia Mbele was admitted in May from work burnout which turned chronic. She is currently still getting treatment and taking weekly iron drips. As for the court matter, her legal representative, the NPA and Sars are dealing with the court matter accordingly,” the statement read.
