Sanco responds to Harry Gwala informal settlement stand dispute involving Ward 110 committee member
A meeting convened by Sanco has produced a detailed response to allegations of an unlawfully reallocated stand, with civic leaders presenting their version of events dating back to the former Sithole View settlement.
The long-running dispute over a stand in Harry Gwala informal settlement near Mayibuye, formerly known as Sithole View before residents secured the land after years of legal battles and repeated evictions, has taken another turn.
South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and former settlement leaders have rejected allegations by Ward 110 social development committee member Annikie Mothibi that her stand was taken without her authorisation while she was in hospital.
The response follows a previous Midrand Reporter article in which Mothibi claimed her zozo structure was moved and her stand allocated to another resident during her prolonged hospitalisation.
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Following the publication, on July 7, Sanco leader Thandi Matedza convened a meeting with current civic organisation members, former Sithole View leaders, and Midrand Reporter to respond to the allegations.
Matedza denied that Sanco or Harry Gwala leadership removed Mothibi’s zozo or unlawfully allocated her stand. “There was a long struggle during the Sithole View days.
When Annikie later claimed the stand belonged to her, we discussed the matter at Rabie Ridge Police Station. By then the settlement had already become Harry Gwala, and even former leader Elizabeth Sithole said she had no authority over allocations there.”
According to Matedza, Mothibi’s name never appeared on the Harry Gwala registration database, and she did not participate in the stand allocation process.
She said a man, identified only as Sabelo, had been living in the zozo and later moved it himself. “We never moved the zozo, and we never threatened Annikie.”
Sithole confirmed that Mothibi had participated in the early Sithole View land occupation and had left Sabelo to look after her zozo while she was ill. However, Sithole said Mothibi was absent when Harry Gwala was established, and stands were reallocated.
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“She had a stand during Sithole View, but when Harry Gwala was formed, she was not there to engage with the new leadership.”
She added that the zozo survived demolitions because it was attached to a wall on the Mayibuye side.
Ward 110 housing committee member Kwena Moholola said the disputed stand is officially allocated to current resident Elmond Mkhonto.
“People were allocated stands based on who was available. Annikie was never available during the allocation process, so, according to Harry Gwala records, we do not recognise her as the stand holder.”
Sanco member Lucky Mokoena also denied allegations that the organisation moved the zozo or threatened Mothibi, saying the issue had previously been discussed peacefully at Rabie Ridge Police Station.
“The person looking after the zozo moved it himself. Sanco members were never involved.”
Current Sanco secretary Ali Masinga said the organisation never received a formal written complaint from Mothibi. “If Sanco is expected to investigate a matter, there must be a written complaint. We were simply invited to attend a meeting at the police station.”
Sanco members maintain that Mothibi’s zozo was never recognised as part of the Harry Gwala allocation process and allege that the renewed dispute appears linked to the upcoming local government elections.
They also urged Mothibi to locate the man she had left to care for the zozo, saying he could clarify how it was moved.
Midrand Reporter has approached Mothibi for comment on Sanco’s response and will publish her reply once it is received.
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