Actor Thapelo Mokoena’s firm risks asset seizure over massive tax bill
Actor and producer Thapelo Mokoena is facing serious financial pressure from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which has taken legal steps against his company, Easy Sundays Production, over an outstanding tax bill that now exceeds R1.4 million.
According to court documents seen by Sunday World, SARS has filed for a default judgment in the Johannesburg High Court after repeated attempts to recover the money reportedly failed.
Initially, the company owed just under R1.1 million in unpaid value-added tax.
However, that amount ballooned after penalties of over R111,000 and interest charges of more than R180,000 were added to the total.
SARS had initially contacted Easy Sundays Production on April 24 with a formal demand to settle the debt or make arrangements to pay in instalments.
The letter also warned that if no action was taken within 10 business days, the agency would pursue legal action, including the attachment and sale of the company’s assets.
“According to the records of the South African Revenue Service, you have failed to pay your tax debt for one or more tax years and tax periods. You are requested to make full payment within 10 days from the date of this letter of demand,” read part of the communication sent to the company.
In the correspondence, SARS outlined several options for resolving the issue, including applying for a payment plan or requesting a suspension of the debt, particularly if the company had filed or planned to file a dispute.
It also noted that failure to act could lead to severe consequences, such as civil judgment or third-party appointments to recover the owed funds.
“SARS may appoint any third party who presently or in the future will owe you money or hold money for you to settle your tax debt with this money,” the letter warned.
It added that should the matter escalate, “a warrant of execution may be issued for the sheriff of the court to attach and sell your assets.”
Although Mokoena, best known for his work on Generations and as the founder of Easy Sundays Production, has not publicly commented on the matter, the legal move marks a troubling development in what appears to be a growing list of local celebrities entangled in tax disputes.
