Muntu Bangani (middle holding child) stands outside her house which was sold without her knowledge. With her are her children Kwanele (2) Ncedile (3) and Zizi (6). Supporting her are Mabhatane Bangani (on left) and Street Committee member Novelakhe Seku (on right). Photo: Nombulelo Damba/WCN
A woman who inherited a house in Khayelitsha following her father’s death has discovered the house has been sold with out her knowledge.
Speaking last week, Muntu Bangani, 24, a mother of three, said in late May she found out that the house she inherited from her father following his death in 1999 and which had been rented out in the intervening years, had been sold, even though she is living in it.
Bangani said her father, Zamile, died in 1999 when she was eight-years-old and residents organised that the house was rented out until she was old enough to take ownership, with the money from the rent being paid to her father’s sister who lives in Gugulethu.
Having lived with her mother’s sister in Makhaza since her father’s death, she moved into her father’s old house in Harare 33 Section in February this year.
In April, she was shocked to discover that her name was no longer on the utility bills she received from the City of Cape Town for 33 Section property. Instead, her name had been replaced with that of Nkosivumile Gwayi.
She said in May, Gwayi came to the house and said he had bought the property for R30 000 and wanted to move in.
When Bangani refused to move, he demanded his money back.
However, Bangani said she never received money from Gwayi and does not know who sold her house to him.
“This came as a shock to me, this man claims he bought a plot for R30 000 but this was never a plot. Now he wants his R30.000 he paid but I never got a cent from that money.”
Gwayi said he bought the plot for R30 000 after seeing it advertised in the newspaper.
When Gwayi was asked if he went to see the plot first before paying over the money, he refused to comment and said he was trying to get his money back.
Gwayi said he paid an “agent” the money for the property and refused to provide any further details.
Records at the Cape Town Deeds Office show that Zamile Bangani was the previous owner of the house until it was purchased by Nkosivumile Gwayi and his wife Sindiswa Gwayi on October 28, 2009.
Section 33 residents have rallied behind Bangani.
“This house belongs to Muntu, it is her heritage from her father. According to us she’s the rightful owner of the house,” said Street committee member Novelakhe Seku.
“All we want is a solution to this. Muntu doesn’t know who sold her house and as a street committee we were never told about sale,” said Seku.
“We only found out two months back with the buyer. He told us he bought the plot but this was never a plot, people have been living in this house. I don’t understand why he didn’t check the plot first before buying it. Bangani is old enough to look after her house, she has children and they need a place to stay.”
Bangani said she suspected her father’s sister sold the house, but she is not sure. — Nombulelo Damba
