Reporter – George April
Cape Town:- A former South African Revenue Service (SARS) employee will spend the next three years behind bars, after being sentenced by the Cape Town Regional Court for fraud, illegal tax services, and possessing of a cellphone while in custody.
Faried van der Schyff, who worked for SARS between 1992 and 1997, was convicted for fraudulently filing tax returns, operating unlawfully as a tax practitioner, and being caught with a cellphone while awaiting trial at Pollsmoor Prison.
After leaving SARS, Van der Schyff ran an accounting business, VDS Financial Services and Advisors, claiming to assist clients with tax matters in Belhar, Athlone, and surrounding areas. However, he was never legally registered as a tax practitioner – a requirement under the Tax Administration Act designed to ensure only qualified, compliant individuals handle public tax affairs.
Despite warnings from SARS, Van der Schyff continued operating unlawfully. In one case, he fraudulently filed a tax return stating a client had paid over R225,000 in employee tax — even though the client was unemployed at the time. This temporarily erased the client’s debt to SARS, but when the fraud was uncovered during an audit, the client faced even more debt, penalties, and interest.
While awaiting trial for the fraud at Pollsmoor Prison, Van der Schyff was also caught with a cellphone — a prohibited item in correctional facilities. Prison officials have raised concerns about the security risks cellphones pose within prisons.
Van der Schyff has a previous fraud conviction from 2020 after a case in Gordon’s Bay, for which he received a suspended sentence. This latest case, however, leaves him with no suspended penalties — only direct jail time.
He was sentenced to:
Three years’ imprisonment for fraud
Two years for operating illegally as a tax practitioner
Two years for cellphone possession in prison
The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning Van der Schyff will serve an effective three-year jail term.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence, stating it reinforces the message that no one is above the law — especially those entrusted with public responsibilities.
“Fraud undermines trust in state institutions and weakens service delivery. Prosecuting offenders remains a top priority,” the NPA said.
CCN Online – Cape Coast News
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