Black Coffee escalates legal fight with Maserati SA as sheriff authorised to seize movable assets

A Johannesburg High Court order has moved DJ Black Coffee’s legal dispute with Maserati SA into an enforcement phase, after a writ authorised a sheriff to attach and sell movable property to recover more than R7.7 million owed to the Grammy-winning producer’s company.

How the dispute began

According to court documents, the dispute traces back to November 2024, when Nkosinathi Innocent Maphumulo, known professionally as Black Coffee, entered into a R16 million agreement to purchase two luxury vehicles.

The source says the first vehicle was delivered but the second custom-built vehicle was not delivered within the agreed timeframe. Maserati SA had allegedly undertaken to deliver the second vehicle by June 2025.

Custom specifications and failed delivery

The vehicle was to include bespoke exterior modifications, custom interior finishes, tailored seat belts and specialised brake calipers, according to the court papers. Before pursuing legal action, Maphumulo sought to resolve the matter amicably.

Correspondence between the parties included assurances from a Maserati employee that a production slot had been secured and that the factory had made a “special exception” because of Maphumulo’s global profile. When the car was not delivered, Maphumulo demanded the return of his R7 million trade-in amount.

Court judgment and writ of execution

The Johannesburg High Court granted summary judgment against Maserati SA on 3 August after the company failed to file a substantive defence. The order required Maserati SA to repay the amount and legal costs.

A writ of execution issued on 17 August authorised a sheriff to attach and sell movable assets belonging to Casa Vehicle Holdings, trading as Maserati SA, to recover the outstanding debt.

The total amount to be recovered is stated as R7.725 million, comprising a R7 million judgment sum plus R735,000 in interest accrued at 10.5% per annum. The writ authorises attachment and sale, but no specific vehicles or other property have been seized at this stage.

Black Coffee’s vehicle collection

The source lists vehicles in Black Coffee’s collection, including a Lamborghini Urus, Ferrari 458 Speciale, McLaren GT, Bentley Flying Spur, Mercedes-AMG SLS, Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, custom Rolls-Royce models, a 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL and a Maserati MC20.

What happens next

The writ permits the sheriff to attach and sell movable property belonging to Maserati SA to satisfy the court judgment. The source does not provide further details about planned auction dates, specific assets targeted for seizure, or subsequent steps by either party.