Boity Thulo is dealing with escalating legal pressure tied to a luxury home she bought in Centurion, after a finance firm moved to obtain a default judgment—an action that could also set the stage for a writ of execution against her wider assets.
The dispute comes roughly five years after she marked the purchase of her R4m residence in the Carlswald North Lifestyle Estate, an upmarket community in Centurion. The property was financed by Leemark Financial Service, and the matter has now landed in court over allegations relating to unpaid amounts on the loan.
On April 24, the finance company approached the Johannesburg high court seeking default judgment. The application claims Thulo did not submit a notice to defend the lawsuit.
Thulo’s legal team, however, insists the case is fundamentally flawed. Her lawyers describe the claim as “fatally flawed” and say it would be resolved in due course.
At the centre of the disagreement is the allegation that Thulo failed to clear an outstanding balance on the financing. The amount is said to be R491,813, even though summons is alleged to have been served on her in March.
The Carlswald North Lifestyle Estate is made up of nearly 700 homes, with properties ranging from apartment-style units priced around R1.7m to larger houses that can exceed R5m. The development is known for landscaped grounds, indigenous trees and extensive recreational facilities, while including both freehold properties and sectional-title lofts.
Court papers also indicate the finance company is asking the court to order Thulo to cover legal costs. The documents further reference a contractual right for the seller—subject to the rules of applicable law—to pursue any amounts still owed.
In the application, the company argued that because the period for filing to defend had passed and Thulo had not entered an appearance to defend, judgment should be granted as requested in the summons.
The court documents state that the sale agreement was concluded in August 2021 and that Thulo has already paid about R3.7m toward the debt.
Loan terms outlined in the filing also explain that if a party breaches the agreement, that party must be served with a legal notice within five business days. The papers add that if the purchaser is the party in default and does not correct the breach within the required timeframe, the seller may—again, subject to applicable law—claim any money that remains due.
The legal fight stands in stark contrast to the glossy image Thulo often shares online, where she frequently posts moments from luxury getaways and high-end experiences.
Most recently, she appeared in a caramel-and-gold bikini in photographs from a tropical trip to Mauritius, highlighting white sand beaches, crystal-clear water and golden sunsets.
She also travelled to Dubai, describing it as a “solo self-care retreat.” One of the moments she spotlighted was time at Verde Beach, where she reportedly unwound in a stylish cabana while wearing a sleek black swimsuit.
Across a career spanning more than 15 years, Thulo has built a strong presence across television, music and entrepreneurship. In a recent radio conversation, she spoke about the pressures women face in the public eye—especially in entertainment, where there is often a constant demand to prove oneself.
Her attorney, Modise Sefume, said the matter would be settled “in due course.”
Sefume added that, based on an initial review, the application is fatally defective, while also confirming that the dispute involves a property purchased by Thulo in 2022. He further said the seller and any representatives were not able to engage meaningfully before the publication of the article.
