A former Springbok rugby player, Schalk Willem Petrus Burger, and his wine farm, Welbedacht Wines (Pty) Ltd, have been convicted and sentenced after failure to submit Value Added Tax, Pay as You Earn and Income Tax Returns.

Burger, 69, was sentenced by the Paarl Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said he was fined R6,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment on each count, and R2,000 or four months’ imprisonment was suspended for five years.

“This amounts to a payable fine of R56,000, or 112 months’ imprisonment, and a further R28,000 or 56 months’ imprisonment suspended for five years on specific conditions. He successfully requested the court to grant him a deferred fine and was ordered to pay the R56,000 in instalments of R6,000 per month and a final payment of R8,000,” Ntabazalila.

Ntabazalila added that his son, Christiaan Francois Burger, was also convicted and sentenced in July 2025 on 12 counts of failing to submit his personal income tax return for the period 2011-2022.

The 40-year-old was sentenced to a payable fine of R48,000 or 96 months imprisonment, and a further R24 000 or 48 months imprisonment, suspended for five years on conditions.

“With the filing season for income tax currently underway, this is a clear message that failure by persons and juristic persons to file their Income Tax returns will not be tolerated. It is a serious offence that impacts negatively on the fiscus.

“As the sentences in these cases indicate, failure to comply will be met with severe fines coupled with imprisonment in the alternative, as well as suspended fines and imprisonment,” said Ntabazalila.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

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