Black Coffee wins R7m court victory against Maserati

Grammy-winning DJ Black Coffee has secured a R7 million court victory against Maserati South Africa after the Johannesburg High Court ordered the luxury carmaker to repay his company over a disputed vehicle deal.

The ruling relates to a customised Maserati MC20 Cielo valued at about R9 million.

A costly car deal ends in court

According to the Acting Judge Sanet van Aswegen granted summary judgment in favour of Soulistic Music, Black Coffee’s company. Maserati must also pay 10.5% annual interest on the R7 million from 22 August 2025 until the amount is settled, along with legal costs. The court order does not provide detailed reasons for the decision.

Black Coffee, whose real name is Nkosinathi Maphumulo, said the dealership had agreed to a July 2025 delivery date for the customised vehicle. He had traded in his existing Maserati for R7 million and planned to pay a further R2 million when the new car arrived.

Maserati disputed the delivery deadline and said the vehicle’s specifications had not been finalised. The company also argued that a customised car could take at least nine months to produce once specifications were confirmed.

According to court papers reported by Sowetan, Maserati told Maphumulo it had secured a production slot because he was a “globally recognised figure”.

The ruling brings an end to the latest chapter in the high-value dispute.