Two medical certificates, a warrant of arrest, and a public statement later, the producer of the Real Housewives of Johannesburg finally made it to court.
She came in dressed in suit, with a blonde weave and face beat alongside her mother and her son. She walked into the courtroom in black stilettos just in time to go to the dock, while her two co-accused were already in court.
The actress and producer Sonia Mbele (46), with her co-accused Yolisa Gqunta (47) and Rebone Sesing (31) were facing 42 counts of not filing company income tax returns from 2019 to 2022, not filing their Value Added Tax (VAT) returns from 2020 to 2022 and not filing their Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) from 2020 until 2022.
Yolisa, who arrived early, told Drum before the court started that the person who is wanted in this matter is Sonia and they are just collateral damage.
Read more | We will not be held at ransom, says the NPA after Sonia Mbele submits another medical certificate
“We haven’t been working with Sonia since mid-season two, and our relationship started to be sour before we even started the first season of the reality show. We brought her in because while doing our research before pitching the reality show and found out that she had pitched for the show before and that is how we got to work together. Little did we know that we would find ourselves in this situation.”
They all briefly appeared at the Johannesburg Magistrates Court on Friday sitting in front of Magistrate Susan Du Pisanie where the matter was withdrawn because accused number 1, the company, The Housewives of South Africa (PYT) Ltd had complied with SARS and made payment for admission of guilt.
State prosecutor Advocate Kamohelo Selepe told the court that the matter is being withdrawn because the payment has been made by accused number 2, Sonia Mbele.
In the admission of guilt document, it is stated that the company hereby admits guilt to the charges specified in count 1 and 41. And that it has now submitted all outstanding returns referred to the charge sheet.
The amount of R41 000.00 was paid as one count. The payment was made on Wednesday at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
When the matter was adjourned, Sonia said out loud: “I paid for you guys, you should say thank you and tell your friend.”
She seemed to be directing that to Yolisa who was passing on her way out of court.
Outside the courtroom, Yolisa says the process was just irritating and undermined the law.
Read more | Sonia Mbele clears the air about company accused of tax evasion
“I am just glad that we are over it now and the fact that she felt the need to pay the admission of guilt fine shows that she was the one in the wrong and was the one that was being apprehended anyway. Rebone and I are collateral damage, the state was always after her."
“We hope that further endeavours that she is part of, we wish her all the best of luck (sic),” Rebone said.
