adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A PLUMTREE ex-cop who has reportedly fallen on hard times following his dismissal for misconduct, has been dragged to court for allegedly defaulting on paying rent for 19 months.Onai Bhonya, who was stationed at Plumtree Police Station and later Madlambuzi Police Station, was fired for misconduct last year.
He now allegedly owes Leavit Ndlovu $2,200 for rentals, electricity and water charges.
Ndlovu who stays in Izimnyama area said she was forced to clear Bhonya’s water bills a few months back after authorities threatened to cut her supplies.
She said her tenant had approached her during the course of the year indicating that he could no longer afford to pay rent as he was unemployed.
Ndlovu said her tenant begged her to allow him to stay in the house and promised to pay the rent later.
She said Bhonya also handed over his car to her as surety.
“Bhonya started living in my house in November 2012 and he paid his rent up to April last year as he was facing financial challenges. He assured me that he would pay his rent and gave me his Mitsubishi Chariot as surety,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said Bhonya occupies two rooms at her house and he is supposed to be paying $50 for each room per month.
She said Bhonya was now demanding his car back but was refusing to pay the outstanding rent.
The elderly woman said her tenant also owed her $126 for electricity bills and $90 for water.
In response to the allegations, Bhonya told Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa that he did not owe Ndlovu rent for 19 months.
He said his landlady took his car which was still brand new at the time and promised to pay for it. The ex-cop said he owed the elderly woman rent for three months and had warned that he would not make the payment until she gives him back his car.
“I owe my landlady rent for three months and I don’t owe her anything for electricity and water charges as she’s claiming. She took my brand new car several months back as I had told her that I was selling it. She’s now refusing to give it back or pay for it and she’s now making all these false accusations,” he said.
Bhonya said his landlady has been using the car and its value had depreciated.
Ndlovu said she would not hand over the car until Bhonya paid his debt.
Ruvetsa adjourned the case to Thursday.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter