Tax is not a concept easily explained at high school, or a mandatory module in tertiary education. The result is a South African Revenue Service with an unbalanced amount of power and understanding of the tax laws when compared to the average South African.

The Shepstone & Wylie’s National Tax Team’s aim is to be the familiar faces when taxing circumstances arise, or when there is a concern or idea to be discussed. Our National Tax Team’s (the Team) success is attributed to teamwork, to debating aspects from all angles and with different perspectives, and to sharing a common goal whilst each person contributes different strengths. This also allows the Team to provide holistic solutions to Clients. 

The Team’s view is that taxpayers should be empowered and their rights matter.

We are pleased to introduce the latest additions to our Team, being Bokang Ranyabu and Junior Tshikukuvhe, serving their articles with us. Both these gentlemen are outstanding, and we are proud of them. We look forward to teaching them, mentoring them and moulding them into the best tax lawyers they can be. Should you see any friendly faces in a meeting, feverishly making notes with the enthusiasm that only youth can bring, it is likely one of them.

Herman de Jong and Jenna Wilson-Jenkins are our associates, both on their way to becoming exceptional tax lawyers. Herman is the familiar face in Cape Town with a knack for resolving matters with SARS, whether dealing with tax liabilities or disputes. Jenna is our litigant extraordinaire in Durban, a familiar face when we are briefing advocates and preparing for trials against SARS. The Tax Team can assist with any dispute against SARS, from responding to audit notices, to objections, appeals, Alternative Dispute Resolution and litigation in the Tax Court.

Bongekile Qwabe is the Tax Team’s tax administrator. She is an e-filing whisperer and has built up a reputable name with SARS officials, especially the debt collectors. Nothing stands between her and the Client’s tax clearance certificate. The Tax Team can assist with mechanisms to deal with tax liabilities, whether through instalment payments or compromises, whichever suits the unique facts at hand. 

Daniel Robb, the senior associate in the Tax Team, is a formidable researcher. His understanding of complex areas is vast and his ability to explain the same in a manner for all to understand stands him in good stead. He is our benchmarking go-to and enjoys all things transfer pricing. This is a reminder that should connected entities transact cross-border, it is likely that they would require a benchmark to confirm that the transaction is at arm’s length. This is needed in order to withstand scrutiny from SARS. The Tax Team is able to assist with this process, from planning and blueprint, in-house benchmarking and finally to implementation in relevant documents and agreements.

We cannot exclude Claire Sjoblom, the personal assistant to the whole team. She is the backbone of the Tax Team and will engage with every Client with flair and joy and make the FICA process seem like fun. The Tax Team is always a call away, likely to be answered by her. She understands urgency and will slot consultations in at the Clients’ earliest convenience.

The partners in the Tax Team are Anton Lockem and Chrichan de la Rey, who have the perfect balance of passion for different areas of the tax law and exchange control. They bring together their collective experience of some 30 years in tax law. Their vision is and has always been that of teamwork and passion for growth and youth development, which is the cornerstone of the Tax Team and the enabler to be the trusted advisor of our Clients. Anton has recently been appointed joint managing partner of the firm, with Chrichan being appointed as the group practice leader of the Tax Team. The Tax Team’s services include disputes and tax litigation, transactional support, restructuring, transfer pricing, as well as in-depth exchange control assistance – whether dealing with blocked funds or making applications to the Authorised Dealers or SARB.