Joburg entity asks court to evict Williams Okpara from building

Former Pirates goalie fights to keep shop open

- By Ngwako Malatji

Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Williams Okpara, is refusing to march out of a shop building he is illegally occupying after his landlord red-carded him for failing to pay rent.

Okpara's refusal to vacate the shop premises in Jeppe Street, in central Joburg, comes after the building owners, Afhco Holdings, disconnected power supply to his shop after struggling to get him to pay rent.

Now Afhco has filed papers in the Johannesburg High Court in a bid to evict Okpara from the building.

In the court papers, which we have seen, Afhco said it entered into a written lease agreement with Okpara to rent a shop at Impilo Place on September 14, 2020.

The lease agreement was supposed to commence on October 1 and end on September 30.

Okpara, according to the papers, was expected to pay more than R12000 on the first of every month after paying a rental deposit of R18 960.

In addition to the monthly rental, Okpara undertook to pay 0.65% of the total rates and taxes, common area charges, water and electricity he would have used.

"In breach of his obligations in terms of the agreement of lease, the respondent failed, neglected and/or refused to pay timeously or at all those amounts.

On or about September 2023, the applicant caused to be delivered by hand to the respondent a letter of demand.