He was a glorified celebrity chef, who once served President Cyril Ramaphosa, Jacob Zuma and businessman Tokyo Sexwale. He hosted the SABC 3 show Rustic Chaluka and was adored for his authentic dishes with an African twist. But shamed celebrity chef,Lusizo Mvula Henna, known as Chef Sizo, will be spending just over a decade in prison for defrauding the South African Revenue Services (SARS).

Chef Sizo, who is Sisanda Henna's brother, wept uncontrollably yesterday as he was handed his sentence at the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court. The court found him guilty of six counts of fraud stemming from the fraudulent VAT refund claims he received from SARS and he received four years imprisonment for this. He was found guilty of 14 charges of money laundering and received six years imprisonment, totalling his sentence to 10 years behind bars.

NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said Chef Sizo claimed R5.3 million in undue VAT refunds of which SARS paid out R 3.1million into the bank account of his Blaque Olive Private Chefs CC. He then distributed the funds to various accounts including his ex-wife, Selina Mpakiseng Sibeko within 14 days. His ex Sibeko received R430 000 and R500 000 was transferred from his business account to his personal account. His wife, Busisiwe Mavuso, received R10 000 and R40 000. His mother Nontuthuzelo Henna got R20 000 from his mother and he also sent funds to his bookkeeper and business partner Siphiwo Selby Hadebe. A probation officer's report showed that Chef Sizo spent the huge sums of the money he received from SARS within two weeks.

On behalf of the state, Advocate Marius Oosthuizen submitted that only direct imprisonment would be appropriate as crimes against the fiscus have a detrimental impact on the government's ability to render services. "Oosthuizen further submitted that dealing harshly with offenders of schemes like these would improve South Africa's grey listing status in respect of financial crimes. He added that it was important for the justice system to send a message to looters of the fiscus that they would be treated harshly," Mjonondwane said. NPA lauded the commitment of Advocate Oosthuizen and the investigation team for their efforts in holding Henna accountable for stealing from the fiscus.