By Dylan Bettencourt
- Eric Mathoho allegedly stopped paying back a R400,464 personal loan that FirstRand Bank gave him in March 2022.
- A Johannesburg Sheriff has been trying to serve Mathoho with a default payment notice at his Bryanston address since November.
Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana defender Eric Mathoho allegedly owes FirstRand Bank R400,464.
A Johannesburg Sheriff has been trying to serve the 35-year-old with a default payment notice since November but can’t find him.
“We have been to his known address in Bryanston, but every time we get there, nobody responds at the gate,” the Sheriff said.
The bank gave Mathoho a personal loan in March 2022. He was supposed to pay back R8,500 every month.
City Press has seen the letter of demand from the bank. It shows Mathoho stopped making payments.
“Mathoho consequently failed to make payment as agreed; he did not make the minimum monthly debit amount when it was due,” the letter says.
The bank says Mathoho ignored calls and text messages about the missed payments.
The bank is now close to getting a writ of execution. This could allow them to take Mathoho’s belongings to recover the money.
FirstRand Bank refused to comment on Mathoho’s case specifically. The bank said it protects customer confidentiality.
“Customers who experience financial difficulty are encouraged to engage the bank directly so that appropriate support may be considered,” the bank said.
Mathoho is not the only former Chiefs player with money problems.
Former striker Khama Billiat is also allegedly missing. The same Sheriff is trying to find him to serve legal papers about a debt of more than R300,000.
Former Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune also had debt trouble. A dealership wanted to take back his AMG C43 4Matic after he missed payments. But Khune paid the outstanding amount and saved his car.
Independent debt counsellor Patrick Mthembu said defaults happen because of bad financial planning.
“People tend to overcommit to debt without adequately planning for it, and they don’t communicate with financial institutions when they cannot honour their obligations,” he said.
Pictured above: Eric Mathoho playing for Kaizer Chiefs.
Image source: Eric Mathoho/Facebook
