Car deal between friends goes awry

Tensions ran high in the Matala Local Court this week as two friends haggled over a car sale gone awry.

The case between Titio Cabela and Monyake Moona was presided over by Court President Malepeno Ntlobo.

The plaintiff, Cabela, aged 30, claimed that Moona (33) owes him M8300 stemming from a car deal they entered into.

Moona admitted to owing money but disputed the amount, claiming it was less than what Cabela stated.

The court heard that the dispute began in January 2019 when Cabela purchased a vehicle from Moona for M25000.

Shortly after the purchase, the vehicle began to malfunction, prompting the two men to agree that it would remain with Moona for repairs.

However, problems arose Moona began using the car for personal purposes, even changing its colour without Cabela’s consent, claiming it was a strategy to attract customers.

Cabela expressed his frustration in court, detailing his attempts to follow up on the sale. He recounted how Moona presented him with a hollow car body, claiming it was the remains of the vehicle he had bought.

In a bid to resolve the issue, Cabela sought police intervention, leading to a written agreement stipulating that Moona would pay him M15000, later reduced to M10000, in installments of M1000. However, Moona only managed to pay M1700, leaving a substantial balance unpaid.

Moona’s defence took an unexpected turn as he revealed that he had been involved in a tragic car accident in August 2024, resulting in the death of a person.

He claimed that this incident had severely impacted his financial situation, forcing him to compensate the victim’s family, which hindered his ability to repay Cabela.

Moona also insisted that he had initially sold the car for M28000, with Cabela paying M25000 upfront, and promising that the remaining balance would be settled within three business days.

Throughout the proceedings, Moona emphasized his previous assistance to Cabela, citing instances where he had helped him with cash and repairs.

Despite Moona’s explanations, the court found the situation complex, leading president Ntlobo to postpone the case until January 22, 2025. This would allow both parties time to gather further evidence and potentially reach a resolution, she said.