SACP response to allegations of tax debt owed to SARS

[SACP Communications]

South African Communist Party

SACP response to allegations of tax debt owed to SARS

Saturday, 20 September 2025: - The South African Communist Party (SACP) has taken notice of certain public claims made by certain news outlets regarding General Secretary Comrade Solly Mapaila and an alleged debt he owes to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). This statement serves as our response to this developing story.

There is an ongoing engagement between Comrade Solly Mapaila and SARS regarding tax matters pertaining to the taxpayer (Comrade Mapaila). As is customary, the taxpayer, Comrade Mapaila, submitted his tax returns in 2021. The engagement relates to SARS’s reassessment of the taxpayer’s 2021 tax returns in 2022. The continued dialogue between the taxpayer and SARS commenced in 2022 and pertains to an erroneous capture following a reassessment by SARS of Comrade Mapaila’s tax returns. This error has resulted in the appearance of a debt that is being disputed and, therefore, subject to correction through mutual discussion.

It is important to note that the nature of this tax issue is a matter between the taxpayer and the tax authority, and no other entity is involved. The fact that this personal tax matter involving Mapaila has now been made public is a cause for concern.

The SACP views this matter as a tax matter between a taxpayer and the national tax authority and does not consider it a political matter. As such, the SACP does not allege any political interference by any political role player and will address it strictly as a tax matter.