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Benjani faces R1.35 million Joburg rates lawsuit
2 hrs ago |
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The City of Johannesburg has instituted legal proceedings against former Zimbabwe national football team captain Benjani Mwaruwari, seeking to recover more than R1.35 million in allegedly unpaid municipal charges relating to his luxury property in Kyalami Estates, north of Johannesburg.
Mwaruwari, 48, is a retired Zimbabwean football star best known for his successful career in the English Premier League and French Ligue 1. The Bulawayo-born former striker played for Jomo Cosmos, Auxerre, Portsmouth and Manchester City before retiring. He is currently the Head of Football at Highlanders FC in Zimbabwe.
According to summons filed in the Johannesburg High Court, the City of Johannesburg claims Mwaruwari owes R1,353,896 for municipal services rendered to the property.
The municipality alleges it continuously supplied essential services, including electricity, water, sanitation and refuse removal, but that the charges remained unpaid, resulting in substantial arrears.
Court papers state that the outstanding amount remained unpaid as of June 2026.
In its particulars of claim, the City argues that property owners who open municipal accounts in their own names are legally responsible for all charges incurred on their properties.
The municipality further contends that, in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Property Rates Act, it is empowered to levy and recover charges for municipal services and is obliged to collect all outstanding revenue.
According to the summons, Mwaruwari allegedly received regular monthly municipal statements but neither disputed the charges reflected on the account nor settled the outstanding balance.
The City says the total claim comprises a previous account balance of R1,338,375.47, municipal charges for June 2026 amounting to R14,855.76, and R664.77 in interest on arrears.
The June charges include R8,065.90 for electricity, R1,607.86 for water and sanitation, R3,182.38 for property rates, R477 for refuse removal, and R1,522.62 in value-added tax (VAT).
The municipality says it issued a formal letter of demand on 17 June 2026, which was served on Mwaruwari two days later. The notice allegedly informed him of the outstanding balance and outlined various debt resolution mechanisms, including entering into a payment arrangement or referring the matter to a debt counsellor, alternative dispute resolution agent, ombud with jurisdiction or a consumer court.
According to the City, Mwaruwari neither responded to the letter of demand nor settled the outstanding debt.
The municipality is seeking payment of R1,353,896, interest at 10.5% per annum, alternatively the prescribed legal rate from 17 June 2026 until final payment, legal costs and any further relief the court may deem appropriate.
Mwaruwari has not yet filed a plea responding to the City's allegations.
As with all civil litigation, the allegations contained in the summons remain untested, and no findings have yet been made by the court.
Mwaruwari, 48, is a retired Zimbabwean football star best known for his successful career in the English Premier League and French Ligue 1. The Bulawayo-born former striker played for Jomo Cosmos, Auxerre, Portsmouth and Manchester City before retiring. He is currently the Head of Football at Highlanders FC in Zimbabwe.
According to summons filed in the Johannesburg High Court, the City of Johannesburg claims Mwaruwari owes R1,353,896 for municipal services rendered to the property.
The municipality alleges it continuously supplied essential services, including electricity, water, sanitation and refuse removal, but that the charges remained unpaid, resulting in substantial arrears.
Court papers state that the outstanding amount remained unpaid as of June 2026.
In its particulars of claim, the City argues that property owners who open municipal accounts in their own names are legally responsible for all charges incurred on their properties.
The municipality further contends that, in terms of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Property Rates Act, it is empowered to levy and recover charges for municipal services and is obliged to collect all outstanding revenue.
The City says the total claim comprises a previous account balance of R1,338,375.47, municipal charges for June 2026 amounting to R14,855.76, and R664.77 in interest on arrears.
The June charges include R8,065.90 for electricity, R1,607.86 for water and sanitation, R3,182.38 for property rates, R477 for refuse removal, and R1,522.62 in value-added tax (VAT).
The municipality says it issued a formal letter of demand on 17 June 2026, which was served on Mwaruwari two days later. The notice allegedly informed him of the outstanding balance and outlined various debt resolution mechanisms, including entering into a payment arrangement or referring the matter to a debt counsellor, alternative dispute resolution agent, ombud with jurisdiction or a consumer court.
According to the City, Mwaruwari neither responded to the letter of demand nor settled the outstanding debt.
The municipality is seeking payment of R1,353,896, interest at 10.5% per annum, alternatively the prescribed legal rate from 17 June 2026 until final payment, legal costs and any further relief the court may deem appropriate.
Mwaruwari has not yet filed a plea responding to the City's allegations.
As with all civil litigation, the allegations contained in the summons remain untested, and no findings have yet been made by the court.
Source - africadaily
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