SARS accused of deducting funds despite court order
Despite being interdicted from doing so, the SARS has deducted R5.07bn of the R5.1bn it planned to deduct from the fuel levy payments it makes to the Road Accident Fund (RAF) – the R5.1bn being the ‘diesel refunds’ amount SARS has agreed to pay Eskom.
This was confirmed by RAF spokesperson McIntosh Polela.
Moneyweb reported on 17 June that the RAF had applied for a contempt of court order against SARS because of its alleged failure to adhere to an interim interdict obtained by the fund in the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) on 26 March.
The interim interdict prohibits SARS from deducting R5.1bn – or any part of this amount – from the RAF fuel levies it collects and pays to the fund.
Polela said SARS made its most recent deduction on Monday, and up to that date has deducted a total of R5 072 360 844.
SARS’ alleged non-adherence to the interim interdict emerged in a parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport meeting with the RAF on 11 June.
Suspended RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo appealed to the portfolio committee to help the RAF with the issue of non-payment by SARS, saying it has ‘acted recalcitrant’.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
