Phindile Gwala-Ngandu who is an actress on the popular telenovela Imbewu: The Seed. Is allegedly being taken to court by a body corporate. After failing to settle her electricity bill worth over R100 000.
City Press has reported that the Bramley Mews Body Corporate approached the Johannesburg High Court last week. This followed after Phindile failed to settle her electricity bill.
Clive Ginsberg, the manager of the body corporate, claims that Gwala has neglected her financial obligation. As a member of the body corporate.
“As it appears from the notice of motion, the applicant (Bramley Mews Corporate) seeks an order against the respondent (Phindile Gwala) for monetary payments regarding arrear levies and electricity charges, which are due to the applicant by the respondent.”
“The applicant also seeks an order against the respondent for disconnection of the electricity supply to the section, pending full payment of arrear levies and electricity charges. This particular relief has necessitated the launching of this court application out of the above honourable court.”
The manager also stated to City Press that the body corporate also obtained a court judgment in June 2020. Due to nonpayment against Gwala-Ngandu’s assets.
“Judgment was granted against the respondent for the sum of R70 809.95 and on or about 22 March 2022, a warrant of execution was issued against the movable property of the respondent…to date hereof, the respondent failed and alternatively neglected, further refused to make payments in respect of special levies, normal levies, refuse recoveries and sewer/ effluent levies in full.
As such, payments become due and payable to the applicant.”“While a failure to pay every amount due to the applicant is prejudicial to it, a failure to effect payment of electricity consumption charges is the most prejudicial. The reason for this is that the body corporate is obligated, on a monthly basis, to effect payment of electricity consumption charges in respect of every section within its scheme, to the local council.”
The actress’ nonpayment could reportedly deplete the body corporate’s account. Also, it could affect other members of the body corporate if the bill is not settled.
“If the applicant does not recover these payments from its members, it will continue to advance monies to the council, on behalf of section owners who do not pay for electricity consumption. This will deplete any savings which the applicant may have and will ultimately cause the applicant to have a negative bank balance, risking a disconnection of the electricity supply, by the local municipality, to all the sections and the applicant being placed under administration.”