Actress and businesswoman Sonia Sedibe is said to have settled her debt with the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Sedibe and her co-accused Yolisa Gqunta and Rebone Sesing, who are directors of Real Housewives of South Africa (Pty) Ltd, are facing 42 counts of tax evasion. The charges include not filing company income tax returns from 2019 to 2022, as well as failing to file Value Added Tax (VAT) and Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) from 2020.

PAYING OFF HE BILL 

ZiMoja can reveal that Mbele who has been in and out of hospital settled the bill despite her health issues. According to sources close to Sonia Mbele Production, the actress decided to carry the bill on her own after her two former partners declared under oath that they were unemployed.

"They lied oath because one works for a company called Milk and Honey Production and the other one works for a call centre, Sonia will learn she must not go into business with people beneath her level, this empowerment agenda she is pushing is costing millions now," the source said.

Another source says Sonia had to hire an accounting firm that deals with SARS matters and pay penalties and the tax bill she accumulated with Sesing and Gqunta to clear her name.

A NO-SHOW IN COURT

Mbele failed to appear in court on 28 September and 5 October saying she was not feeling well and her lawyers submitted a sick note. When she failed to appear on 5 October, the National Prosecuting Authority said she was granted the last opportunity to attend the proceedings today. At the time, spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said, ?The court has granted the last opportunity to Ms Mbele to attend the proceedings, in that it marked the postponement as final, following her submission of a medical certificate for the second time where she could not attend court, citing ill health,? Mjonondwane said. She further said that the prosecution has raised concerns of Mbele's 'undue' delays. The criminal justice system cannot be held at ransom, where there are legitimate and serious health concerns. We as the prosecution have requested that those should be declared to the court, so that we can know whether or not these are legitimate and serious health concerns that necessitate that this matter be delayed," Mjonondwane said. When called for comment, Mbele confirmed that she settled what she owed SARS." I am glad this is over." Mbele, Gqunta and Sesing are expected back in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court this morning.