International superstar Black Coffee (Nkosinathi Maphumulo) is trading the DJ booth for the courtroom. The Grammy winner has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Maserati South Africa in the Johannesburg High Court, following a dispute over a luxury vehicle that he claims never arrived.
At the heart of the battle is a customized Maserati MC20 Cielo, valued at a staggering R9 million.
The Terms of the Deal
According to court papers filed through his company, Soulistic Music, the transaction was structured as a high-value trade-in:
- The Trade-In: Maphumulo handed over his previous Maserati, valued at R7 million.
- The Balance: The remaining R2 million was set to be paid upon the delivery of the new MC20 Cielo.
- The Deadline: The DJ alleges a mutually agreed delivery date of July 2025.
The Breach of Contract
Maphumulo’s legal team argues that the dealership failed to honor the timeline. Instead of receiving his keys in July, the DJ was allegedly informed that the car would only enter production in August 2025, with no firm delivery date in sight.
Citing a breach of agreement, Black Coffee is now seeking:
- Cancellation of the entire deal.
- The return of his R7-million trade-in vehicle.
- Equivalent compensation if the original car is no longer available.
Maserati’s Defense: “Customization Takes Time”
Maserati South Africa has hit back, denying that a July deadline was ever part of the deal. The luxury brand’s defense rests on two main points:
- Production Realities: The company maintains that bespoke, customized vehicles require a minimum of nine months for production once specs are locked in.
- Incomplete Specs: Maserati argues that Maphumulo had not finalized all the necessary customization details required to move the car into the production phase.
The Disputed Vehicle: Maserati MC20 Cielo
The car in question is no ordinary runabout. The MC20 Cielo is the spyder (convertible) version of Maserati’s flagship super sports car, featuring a “smart glass” roof and a powerful V6 engine.
