Zimpapers Logo

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
AN unemployed couple with seven children has been evicted from a Mpopoma suburb house they have been staying in for over a decade after their stepmother allegedly sold the house.

Thulani Mathe, 42, his wife Fortune Mpofu, 32, and their seven children aged between nine months and 15 years have been living outside the house for more than a week after the Messenger of Court kicked them out.

The house was owned by Thulani’s father, George Mathe, who died in 2002. Mathe’s stepmother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly sold the house to Thandiwe Mlotshwa from Siphezini, who then applied for the eviction of the family.

There are allegations, which could not be verified immediately, that the stepmother had since relocated to the United Kingdom.

When a Chronicle news crew visited the family yesterday, Mpofu was sitting outside with six of her children, while Mathe was said to be visiting their first born son who is admitted at Mpilo Central Hospital suffering from a fever he caught after they were evicted.

Mpofu said they were spending the whole day outside the house and sleeping on the veranda during the night.

“We were evicted on November 17 and we’ve nowhere to go. I understand that the house was sold to someone else and they want to come and stay here. We’ve been cooking and sleeping outside for more than a week now and we’re getting food from neighbours and well-wishers,” said Mpofu.

Mathe allegedly reported his stepmother to the police, accusing her of selling the house that he inherited from his father.

“My stepmother is aware that when my father died I was lawfully allocated the house.

“The papers were filed at the Mpopoma housing office. She forged papers that she subsequently used to facilitate the transfer of the house to Mlothswa’s name,” said Mathe.

A neighbour, Margaret Mangwiro, said she accommodated the family for three days when it was raining.

“They have been staying outside for more than a week now and it’s not healthy for the children.

“They don’t have food and they’ve nowhere to go. I’m appealing to well-wishers to come to their rescue,” said Mangwiro.