Thuli Madonsela in car repair dispute

PUBLIC Protector Thuli Madonsela is taking a Pretoria panel beater to task for a dispute over a R73000 repairs quotation.

The panel beater, however, says he transformed Madonsela's damaged car into a gem, but she refuses to pay.

Dino Panelbeaters owner Johannes Vilankulu said the car, a silver Peugeot 407, had been in his shop since 2010.

"I don't care if she is the public protector or the president, everyone who comes in here is a customer and they are treated the same. Everyone gets the same service, which they must pay for," said Vilankulu.

Madonsela hit back on Friday, saying: "He is lying through his teeth. This is the first I hear of this amount. He has never, ever sent me a proper quote or a final amount.

"I will have forensics look at it to see if he drew this up yesterday [Thursday].

"And how can it be that much if the value of the car is less than R80000? I've never said I won't pay. We need to sit down and negotiate."

But yesterday, she changed her tune, saying her attorneys will deal with Vilankulu.

"This is defamation of character. What he is doing is unlawful. I've been through the documents and there are clear signs of fraud," she said.

Vilankulu also accused Madonsela's 22-year-old daughter, Wenzile, of hurling insults at his wife on Thursday.

"She came in here demanding the car without any payment. I told her I will only deal with her mother.

"When my wife tried to find out what was happening, she insulted her.

"She said bad things about my wife's shoes and told her she was not educated.

"It was ugly, she even called the cops as if I'm a thief. I collected the car at Madonsela's home with her permission," he said.

Wenzile said: "I went there to get clarity on my mom's behalf. I have power of attorney given to me by her. It was that woman who was rude to me.

"I was very calm. I taped the conversation so my mom could hear. I kept asking Johannes [Vilankulu] to show me documents, which he couldn't do. At no point did I demand the car."

Vilankulu said Madonsela was referred to him through a mutual friendi.

"I spoke to Thuli on the phone. I've never met her face to face. She said I could tow the vehicle from her home. It was in a bad state. It looked like it had been bumped a long time ago.

"I had to replace the bumper, spotlights and a whole lot of other things. We also had to buy and programme a new key because Thuli could not find its key," he said.

Vilankulu said he paid for the key and the engine repair after agreeing with Madonsela that the costs would be in the final invoice.

somaya@sundayworld.co.za