Popular TV presenter and businesswoman Lerato Kganyago's husband, Thami Ndlala and his company,Thami Ndlala Holdings, have been slapped with half a million lawsuit over a multimillion rand deal which never materialised. Zimoja can reveal that the flamboyant businessman known for his opulent taste and lifestyle was hauled before the South Gauteng High Court on Monday by Tolerable Trading (PTY) LTD, a private company, for his failure to pay back the money paid to his company, despite having failed to deliver on his end of the deal. 

A R50 MILLION LOAN FACILITY

According to court papers seen by Zimoja, Lerato's husband had entered into an agreement with a company of a certain H. Coetzee in March 2021, where he offered to help his company secure a R50 million loan facility with one of the top banks. The papers show that for his services, Ndlala was to be paid a facilitation fee amounting to R2.3million, and he had demanded an upfront payment or a deposit of R500 000 first to kickstart the process of securing the loan for Coetzee's company. In his affidavit, Coetzee said he paid the R500 000 deposit in two tranches made up of R200 000 and R300000, and he also made further payment of R90 000 in May 2021 on Ndlala's request to finalise the application process. As part of the agreement, the court papers show that the two businessman had also agreed that Coetzee would be refunded his money back once it becomes clear that the application process, which was to be filed by Ndlala's company, was unsuccessful. 

"The defendant guaranteed the plaintiff, that should the facilitation process not be successful, the plaintiff's full deposit will be refunded," reads the court papers. 

NO REFUND IN SIGHT

The deadline for the application was set for three weeks. However, despite the agreement and the deposit paid to Ndlala's company, the three weeks' timeline promised, Ndlala has not paid back his money, according to Coetzee. The businessman said he was also told to fill in a refund form on 8 December 2021, but said nothing came of it, despite a promise that his money would be paid back as the deal had failed. 

Coetzee said Ndlala was now ignoring his calls and his emails, leaving him fearing that he was duped into believing that there was a business deal when there was none. 

"Despite the demand, the defendant has neglected and/or refused to make payment in the amount of R590 000," reads the court papers. 

HE LOOKED TRUSTWORTHY

Coetzee confirmed that he issued the summons against Thami Ndlala 's company .He said the move was his last resort after Ndlala ignored several of his communications to get him to pay back his money as per their agreement.
"I trusted him because he came with good references, but I then began to doubt him when he started to ignore me," said Coetzee indicating that there's hasn't been any move from Ndlala since he issued the summons.

CONTROVERSY AFTER CONTROVERSY

Ndlala is no stranger to controversy as he was reported to have been taken to court by Steyn City, an affluent estate in the North of Gauteng for failing to settle rental arrears amounting to R225 000 for a three bedroom apartment he had rented. He could not be reached for comment.