FOR the past 26 years a 65-year-old Cape Town woman has been fighting for a plot she claims has taken by a "powerful" neighbour.
Joyce Tshabe told Sowetan she was issued the same plot number as her neighbour, Johnson Xokolo, on their arrival at Site C Khayelitsha in Cape Town in 1985.
She said she was then issued B759A and Xokolo was given B759B.
"I never set foot on B759A since Xokolo made it clear that I would never build there," she said.
Tshabe said the plot had been lying deserted since 1985.
She said she had been humiliated by her neighbour since their arrival in the area.
"He calls me names. He even called me iqaba (illiterate) and always swears at me."
She said she had received countless death threats.
"He even forced me to close my crèche in 1987. The kids were not allowed to walk past Xokolo's house and that forced me to close down."
She said Xokolo had applied for a court interdict while she had approached the Legal Aid Board. She said even her three children were threatened by Xokolo.
"Fear is written on the faces of the kids. They don't want to stay here. They want me to move but I will never give in to Xokolo."
Tshabe accused Xokolo of abusing his power as chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the area. She claimed even the ward councillor was afraid of him.
"I have reported to her many times but she just brushes the issue aside."
Ward councillor Nontsomi Billie did not want to be drawn into the dispute.
Billie said it was odd that Tshabe only came to her last year to raise the issue.
"I asked her what took her so long from 1985."
She said people were given temporary plot numbers in 1985 and it is "difficult to determine who came first".
But Xokolo disputed the allegations, insisting that Tshabe was issued plot B. He said the municipality had temporarily blocked the plot numbers when they were building houses.
"After that we were asked to go and complain and reveal if we were in the right places. Why did she not go and complain then," he said.
He said he had raised the issue at the last meeting of the steering committee.
Xokolo also denied he was using his position as Sanco chairperson to bully Tshabe.
Dispute over plot rages for 26 years
FOR the past 26 years a 65-year-old Cape Town woman has been fighting for a plot she claims has taken by a "powerful" neighbour.
Joyce Tshabe told Sowetan she was issued the same plot number as her neighbour, Johnson Xokolo, on their arrival at Site C Khayelitsha in Cape Town in 1985.
She said she was then issued B759A and Xokolo was given B759B.
"I never set foot on B759A since Xokolo made it clear that I would never build there," she said.
Tshabe said the plot had been lying deserted since 1985.
She said she had been humiliated by her neighbour since their arrival in the area.
"He calls me names. He even called me iqaba (illiterate) and always swears at me."
She said she had received countless death threats.
"He even forced me to close my crèche in 1987. The kids were not allowed to walk past Xokolo's house and that forced me to close down."
She said Xokolo had applied for a court interdict while she had approached the Legal Aid Board. She said even her three children were threatened by Xokolo.
"Fear is written on the faces of the kids. They don't want to stay here. They want me to move but I will never give in to Xokolo."
Tshabe accused Xokolo of abusing his power as chairperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) in the area. She claimed even the ward councillor was afraid of him.
"I have reported to her many times but she just brushes the issue aside."
Ward councillor Nontsomi Billie did not want to be drawn into the dispute.
Billie said it was odd that Tshabe only came to her last year to raise the issue.
"I asked her what took her so long from 1985."
She said people were given temporary plot numbers in 1985 and it is "difficult to determine who came first".
But Xokolo disputed the allegations, insisting that Tshabe was issued plot B. He said the municipality had temporarily blocked the plot numbers when they were building houses.
"After that we were asked to go and complain and reveal if we were in the right places. Why did she not go and complain then," he said.
He said he had raised the issue at the last meeting of the steering committee.
Xokolo also denied he was using his position as Sanco chairperson to bully Tshabe.
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