Billionaire-backed South African petrol station giant faces R124 million SARS tax bill

• Astron Energy, a billionaire-backed South African petrol station giant, faces a R124 million tax bill from SARS.
• The dispute revolves around a R400 million fuel vessel, the MT Essien, which was detained by SARS in 2025 for allegedly failing to pay import VAT and penalties.
• The Western Cape High Court has refused Astron Energy's leave to appeal the detention of the vessel, which will remain detained while SARS' appeal proceeds to the Supreme Court of Appeal.