A 61-year-old pensioner from Vereeniging, Gauteng, has been left devastated after purchasing a VW Golf 7 GTI that was later seized by Standard Bank, which claimed ownership of the vehicle.
Alliah Bhanga Naidoo bought the car in September 2021 from a dealership, Wheelz Online, in Boksburg. Before finalizing the purchase, he conducted an e-Natis check to confirm that the car had no outstanding issues, and everything appeared legitimate.
Naidoo said he paid a R10,000 deposit, followed by the full purchase price of R412,500 to the dealership’s owner, Ronald Michael Jansen van Vuuren. “I followed every step of the process. I got a printout showing the ownership history, and the transaction seemed entirely above board,” Naidoo explained.
After about five months of ownership, Naidoo sold the car to Xquisite Auto, a dealership in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal. The sale seemed routine, and he handed over all necessary paperwork. However, the situation took a turn for the worse when Xquisite Auto informed Naidoo that their buyer was unable to register the vehicle, as it had been flagged as stolen.
The dealership returned the car to Naidoo, who then handed it over to the Vereeniging Vehicle Theft Unit. To avoid legal complications, Naidoo was forced to refund Xquisite Auto.
Upon investigating, Naidoo discovered that the vehicle had been reported stolen by Standard Bank. According to him, a previous client of the bank, identified as Khwela, had purchased the car in October 2020 but defaulted on payments after just one installment. The car was later fraudulently sold through multiple parties before ending up at Wheelz Online.
Naidoo blames Standard Bank for the ordeal, stating that if the bank had acted swiftly after the first default, the entire situation could have been avoided. “This was not theft; it was someone defaulting on a loan. Why did they wait nearly two years to act?” he asked in frustration.
Despite repeated attempts to get clarity from Standard Bank, Naidoo said he was met with indifference. The bank allegedly suggested that Naidoo purchase the car again—an offer he flatly refused. “Why should I have to pay twice for a car I rightfully bought?”
Naidoo also sent a letter of demand to Wheelz Online and van Vuuren, but his efforts to recover the money have failed. Complaints to the Banking Ombudsman and the Motor Industry Ombudsman have been equally unsuccessful.
In response, Standard Bank spokesperson Ross Linstrom clarified that the matter involved fraud, not theft. “The vehicle was sold under false pretences, and the bank’s title was fraudulently removed,” he said, emphasizing that Standard Bank remained the rightful owner.
Van Vuuren, the former Wheelz Online director, said they were unaware the car had a problematic history. “We did everything by the book. Roadworthy checks, police clearance, and e-Natis documents were all in order,” he maintained.
Now, Naidoo finds himself both without a car and without his money. “I’m a pensioner. This was my life’s savings. I’ve been left with nothing because of negligence,” he said.