By Lerato NDLOVU
Residents of Joshua Nkomo and Leopold Takawira housing Cooperatives have been threatened from challenging Businessman Billy Rautenbach’s ownership of two stands within their premises from the courts.
Sources within the cooperatives stated that their cooperative leaders were summoned to a meeting midweek where Minister Jorum Gumbo instructed the residents to comply with Rautenbach’s demands and to also withdraw the court case challenging his ownership of the land under contestation.
“Our cooperative leadership was summoned to Minister Gumbos Office were they were instructed to comply with Rautenbach’s demands and to also withdraw the court case challenging his ownership of the land under contestation.”
“It is of great worry because the ownership of stand 48 and 49 appeared from nowhere, we were living in peace without such issues,” They said.
The sources further alleged that the leadership of the housing cooperatives was told to stop complaining about the issue that Billy has no Title Deeds over the land and stop convening meetings with residents anymore.
Residents further alleged that the Minister also demanded that the Cooperative should stop inviting legislators, Themba Mliswa and Willias Madzimure to come and address them on this issue.
On Honourable Mliswas social media page he showed his disgruntlement towards the issue.
“Billy has no right over that place as he doesn’t have title deeds Honourable Gumbo should be aware and not abuse people like this.”Charged Honourable Mliswa.
It is also alleged that Rautenbach is to resell the stands to the same owners in USD which is illegal considering that the use of foreign currency is now an illegal tender.
Attempts by the Ministry of Local Government to withdraw the offer letter it gave the Cooperatives hit a brick wall after the High Court in July this year declared the cancellation of the offer letter “null and void.
