Widow reports car dealer for illegal importation

Bheki Mhlanga of Manzini is said to have then disappeared with the vehicle valued at over E25 000 belonging to Zanele Mdluli. She moved an ex-parte application in court seeking an order compelling Mhlanga to return the vehicle to her.

Mdluli alleged that Bheki Mhlanga who deals with the registration and arranging sale of second hand vehicles, popularly known as dubais took the car from her under the guise that he was going to register it properly. She has claimed that Mhlanga has not returned the vehicle five months later.

She claimed that Mhlanga went with her to Durban, South Africa in November 2009 to choose a vehicle. She claimed that she chose a vehicle and gave Mhlanga E2 000 to secure the car. She alleged that he took her to a certain garage, where she chose a vehicle worth E27 000.

She claimed that Mhlanga told her to wait at a distance when he negotiated a price with the garage owners. She alleged that he refused that she pays directly to the owners because they had lowered the price since they knew him. "We left for Swaziland to organise the balance. That very same week, we returned to Durban and by this time we were five in number. We were still being transported by Mhlanga at a fee, which I had paid him. I also catered for food and accommodation," reads Mdluli’s affidavit in part.

She said she discovered that Mhlanga had not paid the E2 000 deposit for the car, but she chose another vehicle which she paid for in cash and they drove back to Swaziland.

"Since I knew nothing about the procedures, Mhlanga went to the boot of his car and pulled out some Swaziland number plates and affixed them on to the motor vehicle we had purchased. He also affixed what I later learnt was a licence disc on the windscreen of the vehicle," read part of the affidavit.

She claimed that there was no trouble at the Lavumisa border gate. She also alleged that Mhlanga further said that she should pay a further E1 000 for the registration of the vehicle. She alleged that he allowed her to use the vehicle, but later demanded to have it back to register it with the Customs and Excise department.

The High Court has issued an order compelling Mhlanga to return the Gold Honda Civic sedan to Mdluli with immediate effect. She claimed that the vehicle had been seen around Manzini being driven by another person. She argued that the gentleman was evasive when asked about Mhlanga’s whereabouts.

She argued that it was apparent that Mhlanga was in the process of disposing of the vehicle without her consent.