High Court confirms preservation order against Amalgamated Tobacco Manufacturing in tax evasion case

TAX Justice South Africa (TJSA) in a statement on Tuesday welcomed a High Court judgment confirming a preservation order against Amalgamated Tobacco Manufacturing and 19 other entities, who are accused of a sophisticated multi-million-rand tax evasion racket.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

The Fair-Trade Independent Tobacco Association (FITA), who represents independent cigarette manufacturers, respects the judicial process and the role of the courts in upholding the rule of law.

In the judgment, the High Court of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Local Division, Durban ruled that the provisional preservation order granted on February 27, 2025 against the ninth and tenth respondents (South African Revenue Service v Kajee and Others) is confirmed.

TJSA said that the KwaZulu-Natal High Court has dismissed challenges to the South African Revenue Service's preservation order, allowing Sars to continue securing assets while investigating more than R96 million in suspicious financial transfers involving the Pietermaritzburg-based cigarette maker.