On Monday, February 24 he went to Pretoria seeking to meet Mr Jeff Radebe, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Themba has been at the president’s office in Pretoria, Premier David Mabuza’s office in Nelspruit, has met with different MECs and cabinet ministers, has been to the office of the public protector Ms Thuli Madonsela, the deed office and now wants to meet with the president of the country. Themba believes that only the president can solve the problem.
All this has been done because he wants his house back. He believes that justice was not done when his house was sold through an auction in 2011. Themba alleged that he was wrongly evicted from his house, that is why he decided to stage a sit-in at the council.
On Friday, February 7 he decided to stage a sit-in at the council and spent the night outside the building. Again on Monday, February 11 after a lengthy meeting with the speaker of the council Cllr Augustine Mkwanazi, Mr Themba decided to stage a sit-in at the council and spend the night at the council.
During the meeting he explained what happened that led to him being evicted from his house. At one time he spent seven days at Vosman Police Station after being charged with trespassing in his house.
Themba insisted that he has the original title deed of his house and does not understand why he was being evicted.
“I have been abused all these years and more so because I am blind. I have met different government officials without any progress. All that they do is make promises; I have been living with promises all these years without a house. My family is now torn apart and they have no place they can call a home. I have lost my furniture during the whole process. My wife is living with relatives in Gauteng and I now live like a criminal moving from one place to the other. All I want is my house and live my life peacefully with my wife and family,” said Themba.
After the meeting with Cllr Mkwanazi, a resolution was taken and Cllr Mkwanazi promised that she would get all the documents and obtain information from the bank, court, attorneys’ office to find a way forward.
A letter from Ms N Sindane, Director General (dated 15 July last year) to Mr Kayum Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer in the Justice and Constitutional Development office confirmed that he has met Themba. He said: “The thrust of the complaint by Themba is that the chain of events which predates the granting of the attachment and execution order by Witbank Magistrate’s Court on March 2 2009 were fraudulent and not based on a lawful purpose.”
“A study of the court file (Case no. 182/09) does not appear to indicate the basis of the plaintiff right of occupation of the property in dispute. This is against the backdrop of Themba’s allegation, which appears to be substantiated by the title deed, that he bought the house through a mortgage bond through ABSA, which appears to be paid up. Perhaps Mr Khoza may have reasonable grounds to bring an application for the rescission of the judgment of the court or for any appropriate legal remedy obtaining in this particular matter.”
Themba was accompanied by other residents of eMalahleni, who alleged that they have encountered similar experiences, but do not have financial means to seek legal redress. She requested for Themba to be assisted in his efforts.
