By Chulumanco Mahamba
Monica Pretorius, a former South African Revenue Service (SARS) auditor, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for her involvement in a fraudulent VAT refund scheme that resulted in a R54 million loss to the government. The 55-year-old was convicted of corruption and fraud after abusing her position at SARS to facilitate the processing of false VAT refund claims submitted by Cornelius Kriek, a fraudulent tax practitioner.
The fraudulent activity began in 2015 when Pretorius, employed as a VAT auditor in Alberton, Ekurhuleni, began approving fraudulent VAT claims in exchange for bribes. She received cash payments and even a car, which was registered in her daughter’s name, in return for ensuring the false refund claims were paid out. Kriek, posing as a legitimate tax practitioner, shared the proceeds of these claims with Pretorius, further solidifying their corrupt arrangement.
Pretorius’ increasingly extravagant lifestyle and frequent absenteeism from work raised suspicions among her colleagues and supervisors. These unusual behaviors eventually alerted SARS authorities, prompting an investigation by the SARS Anti-Corruption Unit. The investigation uncovered the full extent of the fraud, leading to Pretorius’ resignation from her position in 2015.
Court records revealed that Pretorius’ role in the scheme involved allocating audit cases to herself, ensuring the fraudulent VAT claims were processed without proper oversight. In total, the fraudulent claims amounted to a staggering R54 million.
On July 11, 2023, Pretorius was convicted of multiple charges of fraud and corruption. The Specialized Commercial Crimes Court in Palm Ridge sentenced her to an effective 20 years in prison for her actions. Cornelius Kriek, the fake tax practitioner involved in the scheme, had pleaded guilty to the same charges in 2018 and was also sentenced to 20 years in prison.
During the trial, Senior State Prosecutor Advocate Marius Oosthuizen argued that Pretorius’ actions amounted to a grave betrayal of public trust. He emphasized that the severity of the crime warranted a direct prison sentence, as Pretorius had enriched herself at the expense of the South African government and its taxpayers.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has vowed to continue its efforts to tackle corruption in both the public and private sectors. “Corruption is a cancer, and we are committed to eradicating it,” stated NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane. The NPA further reiterated that public officials who exploit their positions for personal gain, as Pretorius did, will face the full force of the law.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenge of corruption within South Africa’s public sector. It underscores the need for continued vigilance and accountability in preventing the abuse of power by public officials. Pretorius’ sentencing highlights that those who defraud the government and undermine public trust will be held fully accountable for their actions.