A luxury car owner says he is preparing to take legal action after claiming his prized Maserati, Bryanston was allegedly transferred into a dealership’s name without his permission before being repossessed by a bank.
According to a source close to the matter, longtime Maserati Bryanston client Mzwanantu Jamela had entered into an arrangement with the dealership to use his vehicle as a showroom display car. He was promised R40,000 a month in return for allowing the dealership to display the vehicle. Under the agreement, he would collect the car on weekends for personal use before returning it to the dealership during the week.
However, things allegedly took a dramatic turn when he arrived one weekend to collect his vehicle.
“He got there and the car was gone,” the source claimed. “At first he thought it had been moved, but after making enquiries he discovered that it had been repossessed together with several other vehicles from the dealership.”
The source said Jamela then launched his own investigation and allegedly uncovered something even more alarming.
“He found out the ownership of the car had allegedly been changed from his name into the dealership’s name without his knowledge or consent. He never sold the car to them. He was simply helping them by allowing them to display it.”
The source insisted the owner of the car has never defaulted on any payments relating to the vehicle, and he had bought the car cash some years go.
“The car belongs to him. He is not in arrears with anyone. The bank wasn’t after him. The vehicle was only caught up because it was allegedly transferred into the dealership’s ownership before the repossessions.”
After contacted for his side of the story, furious Jamela said he believes serious wrongdoing has taken place.
“This is fraud as far as I’m concerned. How does ownership get changed without my knowledge? I trusted them because I had been a loyal client for years. I was doing them a favour by allowing them to display my vehicle, and now I don’t even have my car. I will be taking legal action against everyone involved.”
He added that he wants those responsible to be held accountable.
“Somebody must answer for this. This has caused me financial loss and emotional stress.”
Despite repeated attempts to obtain comment, Maserati Bryanston CEO Bruce Zungu could not be reached by the time of publication.
However, a salesman identified only as Josh was allegedly overheard assuring those involved that the dealership intended resolving the matter.
“He kept saying they were working on a solution and that the issue would be sorted out,” said the source.
The allegations come as Maserati Bryanston has previously found itself in the spotlight following a highly publicised dispute involving internationally acclaimed DJ Black Coffee.
The Grammy Award-winning producer previously accused the dealership of failing to deliver a luxury vehicle after payment had allegedly been made. The dispute, which played out publicly, centred on claims that the dealership did not honour the sale agreement, while the dealership disputed aspects of the allegations. The matter attracted widespread public attention and raised questions about the dealership’s business practices before it was eventually resolved outside the public eye.
Jamela now hopes his own matter will also be resolved, but says he is prepared to let the courts decide if necessary.
“I just want my car back. This should never happen to anyone,” he said.
Cece Smith 