Powerful and filthy rich Shauwn Mkhize's fight with SARS takes a violent turn: 2 hitmen arrested for attempted murder

KwaZulu-Natal police have announced a significant development in the investigation into the attempted murder of advocate Coreth Naudé, who was representing the South African Revenue Services (SARS) in a high-profile tax inquiry involving businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize. Two suspects, aged 28 and 29, have been arrested in Cape Town and are facing charges of attempted murder.

The arrests, announced on Sunday by police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda, followed an intelligence-led operation that led investigators to the Western Cape. The suspects were apprehended in Mitchells Plain and Milnerton respectively, and will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 23 December 2024.

Colonel Netshiunda provided details of the July attack. He stated: “On the day, advocate Naudé was driving into the hotel when she was ambushed by two armed men who opened fire at her.”

The advocate, despite being shot three times – in the neck, mouth, and shoulder, with two further shots hitting her chest – managed to drive into the hotel where she received immediate medical attention before being rushed to hospital. The suspects fled the scene in a silver Toyota Corolla. The case was swiftly assigned to the Provincial Serious and Violent Crime: Murder and Robbery Unit, which launched a comprehensive investigation.

Colonel Netshiunda added: “Investigations led the investigating team to the Western Cape Province and on Tuesday, 17 December 2024, two suspects, aged 28 and 29 years old were arrested in Mitchells Plain and Milnerton respectively. The suspects will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 23 December 2024 facing a charge of attempted murder.”

The attempted assassination of Advocate Naudé, who was shot while arriving at her hotel at the Gateway Shopping Mall in Umhlanga, Durban, on 18 July 2024, sparked widespread condemnation.

SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter described the attack as an attempt to intimidate officers of the court into abandoning their crucial work.

"The attempted murder of Coreth Naude was intended to intimidate officers of the court into abandoning the vital work they’re performing in furtherance of the country’s legal system. This shocking act undermines the authority of the State. Such acts and those who perpetrate them must be resisted and defeated by everyone working together to improve South Africa and ensure that none is above the law," he said.

The attack occurred as Advocate Naudé was working on the tax inquiry into Shauwn Mkhize and one of her companies. She had spent the day at the offices of Cox Yeats Attorneys, representing SARS. A fellow advocate, speaking anonymously, revealed the deep shock felt by colleagues who also work on SARS matters, highlighting the "major chilling effect" the attack had on them.

This sentiment was echoed by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who promised swift action following the incident. He stated: "Ordinarily, I would be expressing concern about the situation, but it is far too big an incident to express only concern. We are embarking on an investigation, SAPS and DPCI [the Hawks], to get to the bottom of this."

The tax inquiry involves attempts by SARS to recover R37 million in unpaid taxes from Mkhize and her entities, including Royal AM Football and the Shandi Trust. In early May, SARS secured a court order to seize a fleet of luxury vehicles owned by Mkhize, including a Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, and several BMWs.

The investigation into the attempted murder has also shed light on previous incidents involving confrontations between SARS officials and Mkhize's security detail. These incidents, one on a Pietermaritzburg farm and another in Johannesburg, involved armed guards and raised significant concerns.

In Pietermaritzburg, Mkhize reportedly arrived with a kombi full of armed guards, forcing SARS officials to withdraw. A senior police officer described Mkhize’s security detail as “not normal security guards,” linking this to the April assassination attempt on Advocate Naudé.

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter praised the successful search warrant executed earlier, viewing it as "a crucial step in Sars’ strategic objective to make it increasingly difficult and costly for taxpayers to wilfully and intentionally engage in criminal activity.”

He highlighted SARS's ongoing investigations within the construction industry and reiterated the organisation's commitment to upholding tax laws, emphasising that SARS would not be deterred from pursuing its mandate regardless of an individual’s social standing. He concluded by underscoring the importance of tax compliance in supporting vulnerable members of society.