New 'facts' on Shauwn Mpisane
Newly unearthed facts in the fraud and tax-evasion investigation of Durban bling queen Shauwn Mpisane might lead to more arrests, the Durban Magistrate's Court heard.
Prosecutor Meera Naidu did not say what the "new facts" were and quickly moved on to the issue of Mpisane's passport, which took centre stage at her second court appearance.
Mpisane, 35, wore a black and white checked suit with diamante-studded back panels and sleeves, finished off with diamante-encrusted shoes and matching belt and hat.
Supported by more than 200 employees of her company, Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance and Transport, Mpisane stared straight ahead as her attorney, Themba Majoli, asked for her bail conditions to be changed.
Majoli said the businesswoman needed to travel overseas and asked that her confiscated passport, held in Pretoria, be sent to her home province, KwaZulu-Natal.
He said Mpisane, the wife of Durban metro cop turned millionaire Sbu Mpisane, had "suffered" when she was unable to obtain her passport at the end of last month when she needed to travel overseas on business.
It was agreed that the passport would be given into the custody of the prosector, Naidu .
Mpisane would still have to inform the investigating officer if she planned to travel overseas, Magistrate Anita Govender warned.
Majoli told the court that he planned to challenge the legality of the search and seizure raids on the couple's R12-million, three-storey mansion in La Lucia, and at another of their properties, at Sandringham Court, near Umhlanga Rocks, last month.
The case was adjourned to September29.
A crowd of Mpisane's employees protested outside the court yesterday, carrying placards saying: "Viva Mpisane Viva". At least 100 of them crammed into the small courtroom.
Her employees said they believed that the allegations against Mpisane and her company of fraud, forgery and uttering, involving at least R2.5-million, were "lies".
Lusanda Mbele said Mpisane was targeted because she was a "successful black woman. People don't want to leave them alone. They are jealous of this successful couple. Shauwn is kind and a sweet woman. She is not a criminal."
Mpisane - who has previously been convicted for tax fraud - and her company are facing seven counts of fraud, 50 of forgery and uttering, and one of contravening the Close Corporations Act.
The Democratic Alliance investigated her husband three years ago, questioning how he could afford to drive a Lamborghini on the R15000-a-month salary of a Durban metro policeman.
He resigned from the metro police and joined his wife's company, Zikhulise Cleaning, Maintenance and Transport, which earned millions of rands after being awarded tenders by the Durban Metropolitan Council and the KwaZulu-Natal government.
Two years ago, the Mpisanes' company secured a R300-million tender for the construction of low-cost housing in Umlazi. The houses were criticised for being "badly built".