Durban - Businessman and multimillionaire S’bu Mpisane is being sued for allegedly failing to pay the rent or municipal services on a Morningside property which houses his professional football club, Royal Eagles.
But Mpisane claims the property is “not fit for human inhabitants”, has fleas and leaking pipes and that the electricity does not work properly.
He also says there has been a break-in at the property and some of the players’ cellphones had been taken.
These allegations have been strongly denied by the landlord, who says all necessary repairs and maintenance are carried out timeously.
“The fact that the premises were occupied for the lease clearly indicates that the allegation the building was not fit for human habitation is totally without substance.”
The landlord also claims he is not responsible for security and cannot be held liable for any break-ins. He says it is the club’s responsibility to keep the building in a hygienic state to avoid pest infestation.
According to a summons issued out of the Durban High Court, Mpisane is being sued by Spare Invest 102 CC for payment of about R335 000 and interest for outstanding rent, electricity, water and rates.
The summons says Mpisane signed a 13-month lease for the property, with Spare Invest, and agreed to pay a monthly rental of R83 790 and to pay for the rates, electricity and water.
Interest would be charged on any overdue amounts and Mpisane agreed he would be liable for all legal costs for any arrear rentals in terms of the lease agreement.
The football team left the premises when the lease expired at the end of June, but Spare Invest alleges that rent for the last three months of the lease - April, May and June - is still outstanding. There are also outstanding municipal bills for electricity, water and rates for February, March, April and May this year.
Speaking to The Mercury this week, Mpisane said he would defend the civil action and that he had been “surprised” by it because the property owner should have been aware of the problems with the building.
“We complained several times, but nothing was done. A decision was taken to withhold the rental until the problems were resolved, but this did not happen.”
He confirmed the premises had been rented for the use of National First Division team Royal Eagles, which he owns with his wife, Shauwn. The Mpisane couple launched the football club last year after buying the Sivuta Stars franchise, which had then been based in Nelspruit, Mpumulanga.
The couple told the Sunday Tribune they were buying the club for their 16-year-old son, Andile, who had a passion for football.
The team finished 10th out of 16 sides in the National First Division last season and is currently based in Pietermaritzburg.
The Mercury