Former Orlando Pirates player Dikgang “Terminator” Mabalane, is allegedly refusing to surrender his Beemer to the bank after he failed to keep up with his monthly instalment.
These allegations are made by Nedbank in the court papers ifiled in the Joburg High Court where it seeks an order to repossess the retired footie’s BMW vehicle.
In the court papers, which Africa Daily has seen, Nedbank states that Mabalane, former Jomo Cosmos players, obtained loan of R386 000 from the financial institution on October 11 2022 to purchase a stylish 2015 BMW 420D Gran Coupe M Sport.
The agreement required him to make monthly payments of R7 870 over a six-year period.
But in a sad twist for the once-admired football star, the finance company alleges that Mabalane fell behind on his payments and accumulated arrears amounting to more than R49 000.
“In breach of the agreement, the defendant has failed to make do and punctual monthly payments to the plaintiff and is in arrears in the sum of R49 248.10 as at the date of signature hereof. As at 25 March 2026, the defendant was indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of R316 538.86 plus interest thereon at the rate of 13.50% per annum from 20 March 2026 to date of payment, which amount is due and payable,” read the papers.
The bank alleged that it has sent Mabalane a Section 129 notice in April 2026, informing the former Moroka Swallows of his arrears and demanding payment before legal action could proceed.
However, alleged the bank, Mabalane failed to remedy the breach.
“The defendant has not surrendered the relevant property to the plaintiff as
contemplated in Section 127 of the Act,” read the papers.
Nedbank said it has now approached the court seeking an order to cancel the agreement and repossess the vehicle.
The plaintiff is now asking the court to confirm cancellation of the agreement, order the return of the BMW and award legal costs against the former player.
“Wherefore the plaintif prays for judgment against the defendant for confirmation of cancellation of the agreement and an order for the return to the plaintiff of a 2015 BMW 420D Gran Coupe M Sport AIT (F36) motor vehicle,” read the papers.
While the allegations contained in the court papers have not yet been tested in court, the matter may spark sympathy among football supporters, many of whom know the harsh financial realities often faced by retired athletes.
For a man once cheered by thousands in packed stadiums, the possibility of losing his prized vehicle through the courts marks a deeply emotional chapter in the life of a former football hero.
For many South Africans who remember Mabalane’s football glory days, the situation paints a painful picture of how quickly fortunes can change after life in professional sport.
Mabalane was once regarded as one of the exciting attacking talents in local football, proudly wearing the colours of Orlando Pirates and entertaining supporters across the country. His transition into television commentary after retirement appeared to signal stability and success beyond football.
However, the court application now suggests financial difficulties behind the scenes.
Mabalane couldn’t reached for comment at the time of publishing as his phone was constantly off.