Former RHOSA Productions business partners, executive producers Sonia Mbele, Yolisa Pebbles Gqunta and Rebone Sesing, whose relationship has turned sour due to irreconcilable differences produced season one of The Real Housewives of Johannesburg together. The trio was due to appear before the Johannesburg Magistrates Court for Tax evasion yesterday. However, while the two women made it on time, the former Generations actress did not show up.

NOT PAYING TAXES

Speaking to the magistrate through her legal team, Sonia was unable to attend due to falling ill. Sonia's legal representative submitted a medical certificate showing she has been booked off until 3 October 2023. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane says RHOSA are facing 42 counts of contravening the Tax Administration Act after failing to file their tax returns from 2019 to 2022, as well as not filing their Value Added Tax (VAT) returns from 2020 to 2022 ,as well as not filing their Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) from 2020 until 2022. An application was made for Sonia's warrant of arrest to be issued and the matter has been postponed to 5 October 2023. Earlier this year, ZiMoja reported on Sonia falling ill and being hospitalised for two weeks due to fatigue caused by overworking and anxiety. She, however, asked her doctor to discharge her a day before the premiere of her reality show as it was going to raise eyebrows. 

THE FALL-OUT

Their now non-existent company, RHOSA was behind the lavish Real Housewives Of Johannesburg season one. The trio went their separate ways after citing irreconcilable differences and were forced to close the company. Reports stated that the disagreement was due to Sonia's request to become the company's major shareholder. Head of PR & Publicity at M-Net's Local Entertainment Channels Philly Kubheka said at the time that The Real Housewives of Johannesburg was unaffected by the company shutting down. "Hence, we were able to produce a great show for the season. Season three was briefed out, and different companies came to pitch," Sonia said the reason for forming RHOSA was to have a 100 percent black female production company that empowers other women but that failed. 

MISCONDUCT

Sonia has since sent a statement to ZiMoja through her publicist, Thato Malindi, saying, she has seen the reports from the media that there is a warrant of arrest out for her. "We urge these reports to come forth with that documentation as we haven't received it yet. In light of the above we have decided to make a media statement to clear the air pertaining to these allegations that have been circulating pertaining to Sonia Mbele," the statement reads.

Sonia says she has once again a victim of misconduct by her past peers and the media. "RHOSA is the company in question this time around and SARS is probing a failure of tax return submission pertaining to RHOSA, which from Sonia' knowledge was closed down in 2019. In 2019 Sonia Mbele left RHOSA and concluded with her peers to close the company, however, the Public Officer and Accountant didn't do so," the statement continues. "Now she is forced to attend these proceedings without any knowledge of the company still being operational when she left and decided to close down the company. Sonia further made her own arrangements to settle her portion of the amount, which means she wasn't in contempt of court due to the assessment made."

THE DOCTOR'S NOTE

Sonia also says that she submitted a doctor's note to the National Prosecuting Authority, and it was taken into record. In a statement released today, she says: "So, it confuses and derails us on why these allegations haven been highlighted to make it seem like she has been ducking and dodging these allegations, to top it off Sonia is still not well and has gone yet again today to the doctor for further check-up, but she is still working to settle her name which has been dented by her previous peers and the media." Quoted in the statement, the businesswoman adds. "This stems as a valuable lesson for me on a business end that the best way of doing things, without any litigation or unethical conduct attacking you from behind, is to go into business alone knowing your own stands and how you conduct business. As a businesswoman, being ethical is the core of her success and she just wants to get this hurdle out of the way and proceed with her newfound company Sonia Mbele Films," the statement concludes.