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LIVING IN HELL: Philemon Thoka and James Thoka PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA

Philemon and James Thoka say they are facing eviction from the house owned by their late mother, who died in December last year.

The two live in Seshego near Polokwane. They are both unemployed and have been sharing a four-roomed house left for the family with nine other family members.

Before their mother died, she never had an opportunity to draw up a will to determine who should own the house. Now the family is embroiled in squabbles and the two brothers are on the receiving end.

While James, 63, sleeps in a makeshift room outside the house, he still endures the hardship of being called all sorts of names by his nephews and nieces. As for Philemon, 57, he has already become used to the kinds of insults hurled at him "on a daily basis".

"Of grave concern to us is that both nieces responsible for the situation were married in the past and have since returned home to claim [that] they own the house, which is not true because we have been staying in the house with our mother before she died," they said.

James used to work at the Polokwane Golf Club as a cleaner and retired due to ill-health. He claimed to have been paid for his illness and that his nieces had stolen the money.

Philemon worked at a car spares shop and was also declared unfit to work due to illness.

Philemon claimed he was assaulted by one of the nephews. He reported the matter to the police and obtained a protection order but the matter did not go any further in court. "It pains me to think of the situation [in] which we find ourselves at home. I sometimes wish it would be better if I died," said Philemon .

Police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Ronel Otto said they were not aware of the matter and said they would send officials to visit the family with a view "to get first-hand information".

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Sat May 25 16:19:02 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 13, 2012

Kgaoza606

Haaii.. Sowetan is now turning to be like Daily Sun...
These are just family matter and dispute that are of no public interest...
These things are happening everywhere...
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Jun 13, 2012

Tswanagal!

Bona e le bakgalabe ba ba kana, why ba sena basadi le metse ya bona, ge ele di poa bogadi tsona dia tshwenya, especially ge ba ka boa ba boela gae ba tlisa mmudubudu fela, le gale re tla reng ke tsa malapa!
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Jun 13, 2012

longest1

@Kgaoza606
you will never know, maybe someone can offer somekind of advice or solution outthere
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Jun 13, 2012

LERATOLANNA

@KGAOZA

This is more of a public interest than you ever know, cause the public might give you their honest opinion.
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Jun 13, 2012

Mara_Y

At 63yrs n 57yrs old pensioners r complaining about been mistreated at the their mother's house. They must go n stay at Government old age house.
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Jun 13, 2012

Shredder

It is their mother's house. What are the nieces and nephews doing there? Why don't they stay at their mothers' houses too?
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Jun 13, 2012

serobapipi

I thought the were also in BIG BROTHER HOUSE
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Jun 13, 2012

1723nevus24

Afamily house should be a place where you all gather and comfort each other as family,
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Jun 13, 2012

bonjubonju

pls wlcum me am new membr
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Jun 13, 2012

Mwelase

Ifa leziwula lidliwa izihlakaniphi. Umama uthathe ilobola lomshana wondla izingane zakhe maqede washona, ngakhoke umshana/niece unelungela lokungenela nokuthatha izinqumo ngekhaya lika dade womama wakhe, yet uyivukela mbuso ehlazweni lasendlini. Lezinsizwa zingama thuna manje uzi bhekile nje. Baphi umalokazana babo na? Leso isintu esiphelele esingeke sashintsha.
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