Local businessman accused of attempting to hijack stand in Katlehong
Katlehong family concerned as local businessman threatens to forcefully take their family stand after it was left vacant for almost four years.
The Mazibuko family is concerned about an illegal occupation that threatens their family stand located at 7526 Motloung Section in Katlehong.
This follows after the stand was recently cleaned by Masilo Mazibuko’s neighbour and local businessman Ronnie Dlamini without authorisation or informing the rightful owners.
On March 25, Mazibuko’s son Karabo Madonsela (20) sent photographs of the cleaned stand. At the time the family did not have answers as to who took the initiative to clean it and their motives.
Mazibuko later contacted Kathorus MAIL informing the community newspaper that he was approached by Dlamini who proposed to buy the stand but he rejected the offer.
“He then told me that he had bought two shacks that he wanted to erect at my stand to offer rental services citing that the yard was being used as a hideout by criminals and drug users.
“I also rejected that offer. That is when he said he would erect the shacks anyway and once he has recovered the money he used to clean the stand, he will seize it. I was shocked. I concluded the conversation by asking him who procured his services to clean my stand,” said Mazibuko.
Ward 107 Clr Thabani Moses Goje told Kathorus MAIL that he was not aware of such developments.
He said the house still belonged to Mazibuko and should anyone occupy it, it would constitute an illegal occupation.
After inquiring with the ward committee, Goje verified that the stand was cleaned by Dlamini as he required parking space for a wedding event on March 30.
This contradicted what Maziboko had told the MAIL, however, councillor Goje promised to follow up on the matter.
A neighbour corroborated the information citing that there was a wedding at Dlamini’s place three weeks ago.
When approached for comment, Dlamini confirmed that he proposed to erect shacks because the stand was turned into an illegal dumping site while criminals and nyaope drug addicts had started to occupy the space.
He said it was posing a health and safety risk for senior citizens in the community.
Dlamini distanced himself from the allegation that he wanted to forcefully take over Mazibuko’s piece of land to erect shacks for rental services.
He accused Mazibuko of twisting the story, citing that he was only trying to help him.
“I met Mazibuko at Twala Section and I told him that because he is no longer living at the house, we should get at least two shacks and tenants. He agreed, adding that he did not have any source of income at the moment.”
Dlamini noted that he met Mazibuko after the wedding and that he did not know where to find him before cleaning his stand.
Mazibuko said this was extremely concerning because he left his fire-damaged home in 2020 and no one has ever attempted to hijack it until recently.
Background
On October 13, 2020, the community of Motloung wrongfully accused Mazibuko of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl whose body was found at his back opposite neighbour’s yard.
Police were summoned to the crime scene, and they also went to Mazibuko’s house to look for evidence influenced by residents who pointed out Mazibuko as a suspect because he did not have a wife.
The police, forensic team and sniffer dogs could not find any evidence after stripping everyone inside the house and searching the entire house.
The angry community threatened to burn down Mazibuko’s house and kill him and his children if he refused to take the DNA test.
He volunteered to have his DNA samples taken but police refused citing that he was not a suspect in the case.
Mazibuko’s 14-room house was burnt despite his complying with the community’s request. He and his son Madosela were kept at the Katlehong North SAPS because the furious residents wanted him dead.
They were later chased away by the then Vispol commander Colonel Nomthandazo Gumbi, who attacked Mazibuko calling him a rapist and murderer. Gumbi is the Katlehong North SAPS station commander and is ranked as a brigadier.
It has been almost four years since this incident occurred, leaving Mazibuko and his children homeless.
