Television production company Sonia Mbele Films, owned by acclaimed actress and producer Sonia Mbele (49) is facing possible asset seizure after the South African Revenue Service (SARS) obtained a default judgment against the company over an alleged tax debt that has grown to more than R600,000.
According to a report by Africa Daily, the Johannesburg High Court granted SARS a default judgment against Sonia Mbele Films after the company allegedly failed to settle outstanding Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax obligations. The debt initially stood at just under R400,000 but increased significantly after penalties and interest were added.
SARS imposed penalties exceeding R46,000 and interest of more than R154,000, pushing the total amount owed beyond the R600,000 mark, Africa Daily indicated. The judgment now gives the tax authority legal grounds to pursue recovery measures, including the attachment and sale of company assets if the debt remains unpaid.
SARS issued a final letter of demand to Sonia Mbele Films on 5 February 2026, informing the company that it had outstanding tax liabilities and providing several options to address the debt. These reportedly included settling the amount in full, applying to pay in instalments, requesting a suspension of payment while a dispute was being resolved, or seeking a compromise arrangement.
SARS warned that failure to respond could result in enforcement action, including the appointment of third parties holding funds on behalf of the company to pay SARS directly, as well as court action that could lead to the attachment of assets.
It is understood that the company did not make arrangements to settle the debt or respond to the demand within the stipulated period, prompting SARS to seek a default judgment from the High Court.
Sonia Mbele Films has produced a number of notable television projects over the years, including the popular reality series Real Housewives of Johannesburg and Real Housewives of Durban. The company has also been associated with various drama and reality television productions that have contributed to Mbele’s reputation as one of South Africa’s leading television producers.
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