By Mandlenkosi Mxengi
Trevor Mentoro, a 37-year-old accounting assistant from East London, made a brief appearance at the East London Magistrate’s Court last week on charges of fraud. Mentoro was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, on September 17, 2024, for his involvement in submitting fraudulent value-added tax (VAT) returns in an attempt to defraud the South African Revenue Service (SARS) of R5.8 million.
The fraud charges stem from a period between 2019 and 2021, during which Mentoro and his co-accused, 65-year-old Alicia Nontsapho Mnqwazi, allegedly submitted falsified VAT returns for Mnqwazi’s business, Mwendane Skills Provider CC. The Hawks’ investigation, conducted in close collaboration with SARS officials, revealed that the two suspects deliberately submitted forged VAT returns to claim refunds they were not entitled to, resulting in a potential financial loss of R5.8 million to SARS.
Mentoro was granted bail of R5,000 following his court appearance on the day of his arrest. His case was postponed to October 16, 2024, when he is expected to appear alongside Mnqwazi at the East London Regional Court.
Mnqwazi, the sole director of Mwendane Skills Provider CC, was arrested earlier in April 2024. She is currently out on bail of R10,000.
Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, spokesperson for the Hawks in the Eastern Cape, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with both suspects facing serious charges of fraud for their alleged roles in the scheme to defraud SARS.
