Caught in a crossroad, a popular YouTube couple have found themselves in a battle over the ownership of their KIA hatchback, with statements and legal threats flying after their recent separation.
The couple, Simphiwe Funwa and Njabulo Ndlovu, who are both known as Sweet Revenge and Boats Revenge respectively, ran the YouTube page Keeping It Real With Sweets and Boats.
Their monetised YouTube page was a storied tale about their relationship and it had garnered thousands of subscribers. The page has since been deleted.
According to the young woman, Funwa, who is believed to be in her early 20s, they jointly purchased the car for their personal use, however Ndlovu allegedly changed the ownership behind Funwa’s back two days after the purchase.
She further said that Ndlovu took the car behind her back and has not paid the portion of the money she spent when the car was purchased.
In the aftermath of the breakup, what was once a symbol of their shared dreams and journeys now becomes a battleground as Ndlovu has also responded, a week later, affirming that they were indeed engaged in a relationship and that the car was purchased while they were still together.
“The vehicle was acquired for my personal use, not for the relationship as she already possessed her own vehicle,’’ said Ndlovu.
He adds that he allocated a significant amount of money that included funds from their joint YouTube account which he considers his own.
“Our shared channel contributed to the purchase price and there is corroborative documentation to support this,’’ he says.
Ndlovu said he found it unfair to be accused of keeping the car under the guise of dishonesty and being held accountable for money that came from their joint account as Funwa retained items such as their camera, which she continues to use.
The decision over the car’s ownership post-breakup is now subject to legal proceedings.
In an IOL report published in September last year, financial adviser Phumelele Ndumo, who is the founder of Thuthuka SA, a black woman owned financial services provider, warned woman against the practice of financing cars for their partner, saying it was akin to financial abuse.
“There's nothing that she has to gain by doing this, because when you do this you are making yourself vulnerable,” said Ndumo, who is also the author of the SA best-seller From Debt to Riches.
Criminal law expert advocate Deon Pool said there was recourse for partners who had been back-stabbed by their former lovers, but it would be a long and potentially costly exercise in the courts.
He advised those who enter into such arrangements to always have a written agreement setting out the responsibilities of both parties in the deal.
Meanwhile, as the drama over the couple and the ownership of the car unfolds on social media, people have had a lot to say.
“The account is a joint account, which belongs to you both but the money from the joint account is yours alone?’’ asked X user, pontsho_mp.
The account is a joint account, which belongs to you both.
— Pontsho Malatji (@pontsho_mp) July 29, 2024
But the money from the joint account is yours alone? Okay 👍
“Did you say CAR vs. CAMERA, sir???
Also, you can't deem joint assets to be your own. Joint means joint. Where is your legal team?’’ says soulfairy3 on X.
Did you say CAR vs. CAMERA, sir???
— Soul 🇵🇸🇨🇩 (@SoulFairy3) July 29, 2024
Also, you can't deem joint assets to be your own. Joint means joint. Where is your legal team?
The mixed reactions from users in the comments were mostly confusion as they did not understand Ndlovu’s shared statement about the car being for him only when they have paid for it together.
IOL