Sparrow Village: Residents form own committee

The notorious Sparrow Village remains a topic of heated contention, and after conversations with residents, it seems the plot has thickened.

The Roodepoort Record recently reported that the founder and longtime owner and operator of Sparrow Ministries, Reverend Doctor Corine McClintock, was removed from the infamous village by a family member, Odette van Zyl, due to her alleged mistreatment by residents and being diagnosed with dementia.

Also read: End of an era: Sparrow Ministries is no more

Van Zyl claims she paid a visit to her aunt at Sparrow Village only to find her in a shocking state inside a filthy room, not having had anything to eat for several days.

She adds that everything that can be sold for cash has been stripped and stolen, and that certain residents who had previously helped McClintock run the facility had gained access to both her private bank accounts and the corporate account and had withdrawn funds illegally.

Sparrow Village has been notorious for allegations of it having become a hive of criminal activity since 2014, when the Department of Social Development decided to remove more than 150 children from the facility.

Also read: Sparrow Village in dire need

Regular police raids on the facility over the years have brought to light illegal immigrants, drug and alcohol sales, and even prostitution occurring there.

In the absence of McClintock, a group of longtime residents have now formed their own committee and is, according to them, determined to turn the tide. During a meeting with the Record, the group insisted that allegations regarding the ill treatment of McClintock is untrue.

“We know that Corine is unwell,” says committee member Sharon Mnyatsi. “She was in the hospital for some months last year, and we were the ones looking after her and looking after Sparrow Village while she was away.

“She was not mistreated here or left in filth in her room. There was a young girl living with her, cooking and cleaning and looking after her.”

The committee also disputes Van Zyl’s claim that McClintock has dementia.

“There was nothing wrong with her mind. She is old and sick, but she is still very clever. Corine did not want to go with Odette, but she was forced.

“No one accessed the bank accounts illegally either. The payments Odette talks about are from when Corine would give us the card and send us to the shops to buy things.”

Mnyatsi says that the village, which currently houses about 300 people, of whom about 100 are under the age of 18, is for most the only home they have ever known.

“They grew up here, and they don’t have families. Where must they go?” she asks.

“We plan to engage with the Department of Social Development regarding a way forward. We are determined to fix the reputation of the village and rid it of the troublemakers.”

Mnyatsi adds that they have approached Florida Police Station for help with combatting crime at, and emanating from the village.

In the meanwhile, the Record was contacted during last week by a local mechanic, claiming that he was in possession of McClintock’s car, and that residents from the village had tried to convince him to release the car to them.

Watch this space for more as this story develops.