The former head of internal audit at the South African Revenue Service (Sars) is expected to face tax evasion charges in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Monday. Edward Mmbulungeni Mushanganyisi, who was appointed the head of internal audit in September 2001, was suspended in July 2003 following allegations of misconduct, said Sars spokesman Adrian Lackey. This included a charge that he only appointed candidates from a recruitment agency called Izwe Labantu and that he received kick-backs from placement fees. The Special Compliance Unit, now known as the National Enforcement Unit, investigated the allegations and a disciplinary inquiry followed. The internal inquiry found Mushanganyisi guilty of corruption related to his relationship with Izwe Labantu. He was also found guilty of creating another recruitment agency, Glory of the Nation, in the name of his wife and mother-in-law, by forging the signature of a manager in the internal audit department. The internal inquiry also found Mushanganyisi guilty of a third charge of tax fraud for submitting fraudulent information on the business kilometres he travelled. He was dismissed in 2004 but appealed the decision at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). However, the CCMA dismissed the matter, which was before the commission from August 2005 to February 2008. "The matter was then handed over to the Scorpions for further investigation and now a criminal case has been brought against him," said Lackey. Mushanganyisi is facing two charges of tax evasion related to fraudulent travel claims in 2001 and 2002. His trial, which has been postponed several times because Mushanganyisi changed legal teams three times, was set down to take place from Monday to Friday this week.
