Homeowners of Eye of Africa, a deluxe estate in the south of Joburg, are gunning for the multimillion-rand property of former Orlando Pirates dribbling wizard Thabo Qalinge after the footie dribbled them with payment of levies.
Qalinge raffled the feathers of the owners after he allegedly sent them a phoney proof of payment when they demanded it for the levies on his home, which is worth between R4-million and R5-million.
His wife is also said to have bamboozled them when the sheriff they sent to attach the soccer star’s furniture to sell in order to recoup the levies, told the bailiff that Qalinge was no longer living there.
She allegedly told the sheriff that she was his tenant and that the movable assets in the house belonged to her and not to the footballer, who now plies his trade at AmaZulu football club, in the PSL.
News that the owners of the ritzy estate have declared war on Qalinge for his tardiness, came to the fore when they applied for a court order in the Joburg High Court to attach and auction off his home to recover the levies.
In the court papers that we have seen, Glenn Murray, the financial manager of the Eye of Africa Home Owners Association, said Qalinge has failed to pay levies for a home he purchased on October 31, 2018.
Murray said Qalinge first incurred more than R99 000 in arrears in March 2021.
He said they then issued a combined summons out of the magistrate’s court for the district of Meyerton to recover the amount Qalinge owed.
Murray said a default judgment was granted against Qalinge on August 2, 2021, for the arrears.
Afterwards, the homeowners association obtained a warrant of execution to sell Qalinge’s furniture.
“The sheriff of Palm Ridge attempted to execute the warrant on November 16, 2021, but was unable to locate the first respondent or confirm if the first respondent resides at the given address,” Murray stated in his founding affidavit.
On or about November 30, 2021, said Murray, Qalinge entered into an acknowledgement of indebtedness with the owners and agreed to pay the arrears over a period of 12 months.
“On January 1, 2022, the first respondent undertook further action to effect monthly payments towards the outstanding indebtedness in the amount of R10,000 per month but has failed to comply with the settlement terms so concluded.”
During October 2022, Murray said, they sought payment of the arrears in the amount of R46,903.
He said they then obtained a default judgment against Qalinge from the same court on March 20, 2023. He said they also obtained a warrant of execution to attach and sell his furniture, but failed because nobody was at home.
“The respondent’s wife is using her maiden surname to mislead the sheriff.
“The first respondent furthermore indicated that payment in the amount of R22 225 was made to the applicant and provided the necessary proof of payment; however, upon further investigation, it was brought to light that the proof of payment as provided by the first respondent reflects a different account number to that of the applicant,” reads Murray’s affidavit. Murray further said Qalinge’s debt has so far ballooned to over R130 000.
“As at March 1, 2024, the arrears contributions have further increased to the amount of R130,767. The first respondent has not sought to make any further arrangements for payment of the arrears and/or judgment debt and/or continuing and escalating arrears.
“It is submitted that it will be just and equitable to grant an order as prayed for in the notice of motion to which this affidavit is annexed, declaring the immovable property specially executable, together with granting an order authorising the registrar of this honourable court to issue a writ of execution in respect of the immovable property,” Murray stated in the affidavit.
Qalinge couldn’t be reached for comment at the time of going to press.
