The Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation (SCCI), in cooperation with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), executed a warrant of arrest against Mkhululi Ashley Mgwetana (50) on 4 May 2026. Mgwetana is implicated in value-added tax (VAT) fraud and contraventions of the Tax Administration Act.
Mgwetana, an acquaintance of the director of Ali’s General Trading and Investments CC, appeared before the KuGompo Magistrate’s Court on the same day of his arrest.
According to allegations, between 2013 and 2016, Mgwetana engaged in unlawful conduct by misrepresenting material information to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). He reportedly compiled and submitted fraudulent VAT returns manually on behalf of Ali’s General Trading and Investments CC.
SARS identified discrepancies in the returns and referred the matter to the Hawks for investigation.
The probe established that through these misrepresentations, SARS was induced to pay an undue VAT refund of more than R1.9 million into the entity’s bank account. Further investigations showed that a portion of the illicit funds was later transferred to Mgwetana’s personal bank account.
Bail was set at R5,000. The case was remanded to 28 May 2026 for legal representation.