&#x2018Most wanted&#x2019 woman caught in North West, charged with defrauding SARS of R1.5m

A “most wanted” suspect who allegedly defrauded SARS has been captured after four years on the run.

Fani Mahuntsi/Gallo Images

A “most wanted” suspect has been captured after four years on the run.The woman was wanted for allegedly defrauding SARS.She was traced to the North West.Bringing to an end “one of the longest manhunts” in the Eastern Cape,the Hawks have arrested a woman who made it onto the list of the “most wanted”.

Neliswa Nofilita,53,was wanted for allegedly defrauding the South African Revenue Service (SARS) of more than R1.5 million.

According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba,intelligence led the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team to the North West,where she was arrested on Tuesday.

“She will now be transported back to East London to face justice,” Fumba said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nofilita was first arrested in February 2021 on six counts of fraud and contravention of the Tax Administration Act. She was accused of making false claims from SARS between 2014 and 2015,pretending she was not trading and had not collected Value Added Tax (VAT).

Investigations later revealed that she was actively trading and collecting VAT and failed to pay SARS,leaving the tax authority short by more than R1.5 million.

After her initial court appearance,she absconded.

“For years,she lived as a fugitive,ignoring appeals to surrender and slipping through multiple attempts to locate her,” Fumba said.

ADVERTISEMENT

News24 previously reported that the East London businesswoman was the director of KNND Construction.

Provincial Hawks head Major General Mboiki Obed Ngwenya praised the investigators’ perseverance.

“This arrest sends a clear message: You can run,but you cannot hide. No matter how long it takes,the Hawks will track you down. Justice delayed is never justice denied.”