Court Orders Repossession of Eric Mathoho’s Car Over Unpaid Loan
Standard Bank Wins Case Against Former Kaizer Chiefs Defender
Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana defender, Mulomowandau Mathoho, is facing financial difficulties as the Johannesburg High Court has granted Standard Bank the right to repossess his Volkswagen Polo sedan.
According to court documents, Mathoho failed to meet his monthly car loan payments, prompting the bank to take legal action. Despite multiple notices, the footballer did not voluntarily return the vehicle, leading to a formal court order for repossession.
Legal Action and Court Ruling
The bank initially approached the court in 2024 after Mathoho defaulted on his payments. Following an assessment of the case, the court registrar issued a warrant for delivery of goods to the deputy sheriff. This warrant authorized law enforcement to seize the vehicle and return it to the bank.
The warrant, which Sunday World reviewed, states:
“You are hereby directed to attach, take into execution, and deliver to the plaintiff a certain: 2019 Volkswagen Polo Sedan GP 1.4 CL from the defendant at [address withheld]… that the asset may be handed over to a duly authorized representative of the plaintiff and/or the sheriff of the high court.”
Mathoho’s Car Loan and Financial Struggles
Court documents reveal that Mathoho took out a loan of over R250,000 from Standard Bank on February 6, 2019, to finance the purchase of the vehicle. The total repayment amount, including interest and charges, was estimated at R380,000.
As per the agreement, Mathoho was required to pay over R5,000 per month until the loan was fully settled. The final installment was due on March 1, 2025, but he had fallen behind on payments.
By September 16, 2024, the former defender owed R49,626 in arrears. The bank sent him a default notice on September 25, 2024, informing him of his overdue payments and urging him to settle the outstanding amount.
Failure to Settle Leads to Agreement Cancellation
The agreement between Standard Bank and Mathoho stated that the bank retained ownership of the vehicle until full repayment. Since Mathoho defaulted and failed to rectify his breach, Standard Bank exercised its legal right to cancel the agreement and reclaim the vehicle.
The court papers highlight that the footballer ignored repeated notices and made no effort to pay the overdue amount. As a result, Standard Bank declared Mathoho to be in unlawful possession of the car and sought full repayment of all outstanding amounts.
Repercussions for Mathoho
The repossession of his vehicle marks a difficult chapter in Mathoho’s life post-football. Once a star defender for Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic, his financial troubles highlight the challenges some professional athletes face after retiring or losing form.
As the bank moves forward with the recovery of the vehicle, Mathoho may also face additional legal consequences if he does not comply with the court’s ruling.
