Illegal plastic bag trade dodges R1bn in taxes

Timeslive · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · May 09, 2026 · 1075 words · By Khulekani Magubane

Corporate Compliance Tax Evasion and Illicit Trade Environmental Sustainability

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What to know about Corporate Compliance

The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is addressing ongoing tax evasion regarding environmental levies on plastic bags, which has resulted in an estimated R1bn loss over five years. The article details Sars' strategy to hold retailers and distributors liable and includes perspectives from Plastics SA and SPAR regarding compliance and sustainability.

Propaganda risk 20%

Claims checked 12

Techniques found 1

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center88%

Right12%

8 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Story audio is generated using AI Years after the SA Revenue Service (Sars) uncovered and intervened against plastic producers and wholesalers accused of withholding the environmental levy on supermarket plastic bags, the practice appears to be continuing,…

Why it matters

After moving against plastic manufacturers and wholesalers in 2022 for allegedly failing to pay over the environmental tax levied on shopping bags, the tax authority now admits that — while smaller in scale than other illicit economic activities — the…

Common ground

Sars told Business Times that financial investigations into areas such as plastic bag levies involve a range of complexities during the evidence-gathering and analytical phases.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Corporate Compliance story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that As of 2024, most SPAR-branded carrier bags in South Africa are made from 100% recycled materials, with a minimum of 70% post-consumer waste, and are fully recyclable?
How does this story connect Corporate Compliance with Tax Evasion and Illicit Trade over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://timeslive.co.za/news/business/2026-05-09-illegal-plastic-bag-trade-dodge…

analyticsAnalysis

20%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 6

help Insufficient Evidence 2

check_circle Corroborated 2

schedule Pending 2

help

Claim 1: “As of 2024, most SPAR-branded carrier bags in South Africa are made from 100% recycled materials, with a minimum of 70% post-consumer waste, and are fully recyclable”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for the specific recycled material composition of SPAR-branded carrier bags in 2024.

info

Claim 2: “Sars has obtained a legal opinion to seek to hold retailers and distributors of illicit products — including plastic bags — personally liable for uncollected taxes”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim regarding a legal opinion to hold retailers personally liable is explicitly stated in the article 'Illegal plastic bag trade dodges R1bn in taxes', but no other independent source confirms this specific legal move.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In addition, Sars has obtained a legal opinion to seek to hold retailers and distributors of illicit products — including plastic bags — personally liable for uncollected taxes.”
https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/business/2026-05-09-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — About SARS. Types of Tax. Legal Counsel.Medical Tax Credit Rates. The Budget tax guide 2026 will be published on 25 February 2026 when the Minister of Finance delivers his budget speech – keep an eye …
https://www.sars.gov.za/tax-rates/income-tax/rates-of-tax-fo…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Kieswetter said SARS loses about R60bn because of unpaid excise duties, and it loses about R86bn because of illicit trade flows. But the largest loss – according to the Davis Tax Committee – is from u…
https://www.moonstone.co.za/how-sars-arrives-at-r800bn-in-un…

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Claim 3: “national illicit economy disruption programme announced by the president during the state of the nation address in February”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm the announcement of the National Illicit Economy Disruption Programme by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — We are establishing a National Illicit Economy Disruption Programme that brings together key state agencies and other stakeholders, including the private sector.
https://www.gov.za/news/speeches/2026StateOfTheNation

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — CGCSA notes that the programme's success will depend on a coordinated approach by various stakeholders, including the use of digital passports, data analytics, and stronger law enforcement. The illici…
https://www.cgcsa.co.za/CGCSA_WELCOMES_THE_NATIONAL_ILLICIT_…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a national crackdown on illicit trade, unveiling a new Illicit Economy Disruption Programme aimed at targeting the illegal tobacco, fuel, alcohol and counterfei…
https://dailynews.co.za/business/2026-02-12-ramaphosa-unveil…

schedule

Claim 4: “the group is proud to be a founding member of the SA Plastics Pact”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “This contributes to diverting about 4,000 tons of plastic waste from landfills annually”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 6: “Sars estimates that revenue leakage within the value chain amounts to about R1bn over the past five years.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The estimate of R1bn revenue leakage over five years is mentioned in the same single news source as claim 2. Other search results for 'SARS' returned information about the virus, not the revenue service.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin caused by the virus SARS-CoV-1, the first identified strain of the SARS-related coronavirus. The first known …
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/SARS

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a contagious illness caused by a coronavirus. It′s a disease that affects the lungs and airways, also called a respiratory illness. The coronavirus that cau…
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sars/symptoms…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Apr 18, 2024 · Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a SARS-coronavirus. While SARS cases were detected as early as November 2002 as part of an outbreak tha…
https://www.who.int/health-topics/severe-acute-respiratory-s…

info

Claim 7: “the plastic manufacturing sector has been identified as a high-risk sector receiving focused enforcement attention”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results for this claim returned information about the SARS virus, not the revenue service's enforcement sectors.

travel_explore

info

Claim 8: “For the 2024/25 financial year, the government collected R698.71m from the environmental levy on plastic bags.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific figure of R698.71m for the 2024/25 financial year is mentioned in one news source ('Illegal plastic bag trade dodges R1bn in taxes'), but not corroborated by other independent sources in the provided evidence.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The name "South Africa" is derived from the country's geographic location at the southern tip of Africa. Upon formation, the country was named the Union of South Africa in English and Unie van Zuid-Af…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — For the 2024/25 financial year, the government collected R698.71m from the environmental levy on plastic bags. Sars estimates that revenue leakage within the value chain amounts to about R1bn over the…
https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/business/2026-05-09-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — South Africa is a constitutional democracy with a three-tier system of government and an independent judiciary.Employment and Labour. Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Finance. Higher Education…
https://www.gov.za/about-government/government-system/struct…

help

Claim 9: “Each bag must have its NRCS registration number printed on it.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found after searching for the requirement of NRCS registration numbers on plastic bags.

info

Claim 10: “the non-payment of the 32c on plastic bags persists”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided web results for this claim are generic articles about environmental issues and do not mention the specific 32c levy or its non-payment in South Africa.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Environmental issues are disruptions in the usual function of ecosystems. [1] . Further, these issues can be caused by humans (human impact on the environment) [2] or they can be natural.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues

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web search NEUTRAL — Apr 27, 2026 · EPA's resources on environmental issues include research, basics, what you can do, and an index covering more specific terms.
https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics

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web search NEUTRAL — Earth Day reminds us of the biggest environmental issues and their drivers. Here are 5 interesting Earth Day facts and how we can all do our part to help and support the environment. From Earth.Org’s …
https://earth.org/

check_circle

Claim 11: “Sars uncovered and intervened against plastic producers and wholesalers accused of withholding the environmental levy on supermarket plastic bags in 2022”

CORROBORATED

The claim is supported by a news report regarding illegal plastic bag trade and a specific High Court case (Premier Plastics (Pty) Ltd v The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service) from 2022 concerning environmental levies.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Years after the SA Revenue Service (Sars) uncovered and intervened against plastic producers and wholesalers accused of withholding the environmental levy on supermarket plastic bags, the practice app…
https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/business/2026-05-09-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA IN THE HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA GAUTENG LOCAL DIVISION, JOHANNESBURG Case No: 9726/2021 REPORTABLE: YES OF INTEREST TO OTHER JUDGES: YES REVISED. 2022/7/28 In the matter bet…
https://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZAGPJHC/2022/755.html

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 August 2022 - Customs & Excise Act, 1964 1 August 2022 - Customs & Excise Act, 1964 Premier Plastics (Pty) Ltd v CSARS (9726/2021) [2022] ZAGPJHC (28 July 2022) Whether the Commissioner was correct …
https://www.sars.gov.za/latest-news/legal-counsel-dispute-re…

info

Claim 12: “Sars started engaging and formalising partnerships with various agencies in the criminal justice system, trade and industry bodies, academics, research institutions, and private sector representatives — including Business Against Crime and private groupings — as part of the Expanded Illicit Economy Strategy 2025/26”

SINGLE SOURCE

The search results for this claim returned information about the SARS virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) rather than the South African Revenue Service's strategy.

travel_explore

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.