TCM and Gauteng company in stand-off over attachment order

LYDENBURG – Magoveni, a company from Pretoria, is suing the Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM) for more than

R9 million for debt collection services rendered in 2013.

The Sheriff, Mr Elias Mohlahla, arrived at TCM on Thursday with a warrant for the attachment of not one, but all the vehicles of the municipality.

Magoveni apparently gave instructions that the vehicles should be attached and removed with immediate effect. Three bakkies were taken on Thursday.

The municipal manager, Mr Surprise Maebela, told the newspaper that there was some confusion regarding the situation.

“We were in court today (Thursday) because of this judgement. We are surprised that they are here today to attach and remove our assests.

“We can’t, however, fight the Sheriff. When we looked at the judgement, there were two different case numbers. The case number that our lawyer has, differs from the one of the Sheriff.

It’s fine, however, we will get our bakkies before the end of the day. Somehow they changed their date and came today instead of tomorrow, because they knew that we would defend whatever they served us with.”

The municipal lawyers, however, prevented the Sheriff from proceeding with the repossession of the municipal property.

An source at TCM told the newspaper that Magoveni was paid in full for the services they rendered.

“They were paid R4 million for debt collection and the instalment of new prepaid meters. The contract with the company was, however, cancelled on account of the shoddy work they provided. Meters were left open and people are still being billed incorrectly to this day. There is a lot of politics involved with this judgement,” he explained.

The newspaper searched for the Magoveni company profile on the Internet. The website provided nothing but the address and telephone number. Steelburger/Lydenburg News phoned the offices of Magoveni and asked to be directed to the general manager,

Mr Richard Masukume. The newspaper was, however, informed that he was not in and that they were not sure when he would be back.

The paper nonetheless obtained the email address of Masukume. Queries regarding the judgement against TCM were forwarded to him. The newspaper wanted to know whether Magoveni had indeed been paid in full for its services and the reasons why the contract with the municipality had been cancelled. It also requested a list of all the debt collections the company had made for TCM.

By the time of going to press, Masukume did not comment on any of the queries.

TCM said the issue of the Sheriff was still before court and the municipality was unfortunately unable to comment further.