Television presenter Zandi Nhlapo and her agency are allegedly refusing to pay rent for the office equipment they hired from a Joburg company.
As a result of their alleged caper, Nhlapo and her entity, Liquid Image, have been dragged to the Joburg High Court by Pendigo Trade and Invest.
Pendigo, which trades as Itec Finance, applied for a default judgment against the two last week after they failed to pay a total of just under R300 000 in rental fees.
The company also wants Nhlapo and her agency to return the equipment to its premises.
In the court papers, which we have seen, Pendigo said it entered into two master rental agreements with Liquid Image.
In the first master rental agreement Liquid Image agreed to rent office equipment from Pendigo for 60 months.
The equipment included a Yealink T23G, a Yealink T27G, and a Netgear 24X Poe Port.
The company further stated that on or about May 23, 2019, Nhlapo, who is fondly known in the entertainment ecosystem as Mama Za, signed the papers binding herself as guarantor for Liquid Image.
Liquid Image agreed to pay more than R3 500 a month, which would increase by 15% per annum.
Pendigo said Nhlapo and her company breached the agreement when they defaulted on their rental payment.
As a result of the breach, Pendigo explained that it asked the two to immediately pay all the amounts due in terms of the agreement. The arrears amount is more than R194 000.
It further asked Liquid Image and Nhlapo to return the equipment in good condition.
“The first defendant, as of May 25, 2023, is in arrears in the amount of R115 837.03. The future rentals payable in terms of the agreement and the terms of the plaintiff’s election as set out above amount to R79 001.
“The total amount outstanding by the first defendant to the plaintiff is the amount of R194 838.08 plus interest …,” read the papers.
Pendigo said that despite the demand, Liquid Image and Nhlapo have failed to remit payment.
Pendigo also stated that Nhlapo and her agency owe more than R80 000 in unpaid rent for breaching the second rental agreement.
The company stated it signed a second rental agreement with Liquid Image on May 23, in which it rented an Itec C258 for 60 months. Nhlapo’s company agreed to pay more than R1 500 a month, which would escalate by 15% per annum.
Liquid Image, Pendigo stated, breached the agreement when it defaulted on the rental payment.
“In consequence of the aforesaid breach of the schedule to the agreement, the plaintiff elected to claim immediate payment of all amounts, which would have been payable in terms of the schedule to the agreement and claim the return of the goods mentioned…,” read the papers.
Pendigo said as of May 25 last year, Liquid Image was more than R50 000 in arrears.
“The future rentals payable in terms of the schedule and in terms of the plaintiff’s election as set out above amount to R34 123.48.
“The total amount outstanding by the first defendant as of May 25, 2023 is the amount of R84 162.81 plus interest,” read the papers.
Pendigo said it has written several letters to Nhlapo and her company to settle the account, but its pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
“Wherefore the plaintiff prays for judgment against the first and second defendants, jointly and severally, the one paying the other to be absolved…”
Attempts to solicit comments from Nhlapo drew a blank.
