Good morning. Today we’re covering finance minister Enoch Godongwana’s alleged role in a sexual harassment claim, three more suspects have been arrested for the July 2021 riots, and Sars says it needs better tools to investigate ‘unexplained wealth’.
‘I will not be commenting any further’ – Godongwana on sexual harassment claims – EWN
Enoch Godongwana has become embroiled in alleged sexual harassment allegations after media reports over the weekend stated that the finance minister was reported to the police by a masseuse after the minister spent some time at a five-star hotel in the Kruger National Park.
Godongwana says he has not received any information from police that he has been charged with sexual assault and denies the allegations levelled against him, claiming that he was with his wife at the time of the alleged incident.
The finance minister further distanced himself from the matter with spokesperson Mfuneko Toyana saying Godongwana will make no further statements on the matter and will only comment again at an appropriate time. Read more here.
Three more suspects to appear in Durban court for July unrest violence – News24
On Sunday, the Hawks said they had arrested three more people in connection with the unrest and violence that broke out in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in July 2021. The arrests follow 22 others that were made last week.
The three alleged instigators will appear in the Durban regional court today and will face the same charges as the 22 others did when they made their first appearance in court on Friday. The charges include conspiracy to incite public violence, inciting public violence and inciting arson.
News24 reported last week that former president Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Dudu Zuma-Sambudla, was being investigated by the Hawks after she posted celebratory pictures and videos to her social media accounts during the July 2021 unrest but she was not among the initial 22 arrested nor the latest trio. Read more here.
Crime fighters support better tools to investigate unexplained wealth – Business Day (for subscribers)
Several agencies have highlighted the need for tools to investigate unexplained wealth.
Experts from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) participated in a workshop where they highlighted the need to pilot and test proposals on unexplained wealth, which includes assets that far exceed taxpayers’ declared income.
SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Edward Kieswetter said while the tax collector had ways of looking at unexplained wealth via algorithms, its investigations are limited to tax audits and it cannot conduct a “fishing expedition.” Kieswetter said Sars highlighted about 26,000 people who “demonstrated economic activity above R1m a year who had not registered as taxpayers” last year. Read more here.
Here’s what else we’re reading today:
Stocks pare gains amid China data rate cut: markets wrap – Daily Maverick
Kubayi throws hat in ring to become ANC’s first deputy president – The Citizen
Prepaid electricity uproar – City Press
Rain “engaging” regulator over order to retract Telkom merger statement – MyBroadband
A decade since the Marikana massacre, a century since the Rand Revolt – Daily Maverick
2 documents South African expats need to avoid being taxed by SARS – BusinessTech
Concerns voiced over Sasol Gas’ intention to increase prices by 96% – SABC
World embraces dirtier fuels as gas hits exorbitant heights – Daily Maverick
Credit health plummeting – Index at its lowest since 2020 – The Citizen
Image Credit: GCIS
