Filmmaker, producer and playwright; Duma Ndlovu is enjoying a respite from tension, following the Joburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court’s decision to ease his bail conditions and allow him to travel abroad.
Uzalo creator who is facing the charge of tax fraud with his co-accused Rodney Mutsharini and Maxwell Mloyi, had asked the court to amend his bail condition to allow him to travel to the US in January next year to work on a Lion King production.
According to Daily Sun, Duma’s lawyer, Jenna Maxwell, argued that her client must attend the Lion King‘s production in the US, and the bail conditions were making it difficult for him to fulfil his obligation. The lawyer further argued that Duma is not a flight risk because he has a wife and six children in SA.
Quoted by the publication, Magistrate Ashika Ramlal responded: “The condition of bail five required the accused to surrender his passport, and now his passport will be returned to him and the bail condition of bail three indicated that the accused was supposed to report to the Sandton Station twice a week, during the duration of his trip to America he doesn’t have to report to the police station,” said Ashika.
The Citizen reported that Rodney is a registered tax practitioner who assisted the legendary journalist with his personal income tax (PIT). While Maxwell, an unregistered tax practitioner assisted Duma with his company income tax.
The trio made their first appearance at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court for their bail application in October. They are facing 18 charges of tax fraud relating to Duma’s personal and company income tax valued at approximately R26 million, according to the publication.
Duma Rodney and Maxwell are expected to return to court on the 2nd of April next year.
Also see: Filmmaker Duma ka Ndlovu faces fraud charges over undeclared income | Bona Magazine
