Prince Kaybee, the award-winning South African producer, has found himself embroiled in a significant tax dispute with the South African Revenue Service (SARS). According to documents obtained by ZiMoja, the Gugulethu hitmaker, whose real name is Kabelo Motsamai, owes the tax authority over R2 million in unpaid taxes, spanning a period of more than a year, aacording to ZiMoja.
SARS has now issued Kaybee with a final letter of demand, giving him just 10 business days to either pay the full amount or make arrangements for an installment plan, should he be unable to settle the debt in its entirety.
Failure to comply with this demand could have dire consequences for the producer, as SARS has warned that it may appoint a third party to settle the debt or even initiate the repossession and sale of his assets by the sheriff of the court.
The letter further states that Kaybee, as a natural person, may apply for a reduction in the amount owed based on his and his dependents’ basic living expenses, or, if he is a non-natural person, he can apply for a reduction due to serious financial hardship.
In recent years, Kaybee has made headlines for his business ventures, such as his decision to purchase trucks and create employment opportunities for three potential drivers. However, the producer has also faced allegations of song theft, with two artists, Bhizer and Botlhale Phora, accusing him of appropriating the ideas of songs they had sent him in 2021. Kaybee has yet to respond to these accusations.
The tax dispute with SARS has undoubtedly added to the challenges faced by the award-winning producer, who has been navigating the complexities of the music industry as an independent artist, having recently parted ways with major labels. This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining proper financial practices and compliance, even for successful artists in the highly competitive and dynamic world of the music business.