After failing to appear in court on two occasions, citing ill-health and submitting medical certificates, actress and businessperson Sonia Mbele finally availed herself to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning.
She appeared alongside her business partners, Yolisa Gqunta and Rebone Sesing, who were present for all three appearances.
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The trio was charged with contravening the Tax Administration Act following its failure to submit pay-as-you-earn returns for its production company, Real Housewives of SA, known as Rhosa, which produced the Real Housewives of Johannesburg.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) mentioned on 5 October that the postponement was marked as final and Mbele was given a last chance to attend the court proceedings.
The NPA had also applied for a warrant of arrest for the former Generations actress.
Their appearance did not take more than five minutes as the court learnt that Mbele had admitted guilt and paid the money owed by the company on Wednesday.
The actress, who had arranged to pay only her portion of the owed amount, ended up paying the whole money and the case was withdrawn for all directors of the company.
Mbele, who was said to be taking weekly iron drips, paid R1000 for all the 41 counts they were charged for, meaning she paid a total of R41 000.
The court documents stated that paying the fine implied that the three were convicted and sentenced by the court and the conviction would appear on their criminal records.
Previously, Mbele’s spokesperson, Thato Malindi, mentioned in a statement that according to Mbele’s knowledge, Rhosa was closed down in 2019.
He added that when the Blood and Water actress left the company, she asked her partners to close it, but the public officer and accountant failed to do so.
On Friday, Malindi said Mbele was still recovering and would not be commenting on the matter until she was ready to do so.
NPA’s spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane could not be reached for comment.
