Politician to sue disgruntled sister for defamation
POLITICIAN and former Member of Parliament, Makhosi Khoza will be approaching the court to settle a dispute between her and her sister, Zandile Khoza.
Khoza has described her sister Zandile’s actions towards her as malicious and narcissistic, following allegations posted by the latter on social media recently.
Zandile, a project manager at the Department of Trade and Industry, claimed that Khoza used her political influence to gain illegal ownership of her property in Harewood, Pietermaritzburg, which she built by herself, from scratch, using loaned funds and other properties belonging to the family.
Zandile also claimed that Khoza performed sacrificial rituals to enrich herself and was responsible for the death of their niece, who drowned in her home in Hillcrest.
She further claimed that Khoza mistreated her family and that her sister had a mental illness for which she needed urgent medical attention.
Speaking to the Sunday Tribune, Zandile reiterated her stance, adding that she loved Khoza and wanted what was best for her.
“Although we are not in a good space, I love my sister very much and want to see her getting better.
“The biggest reason why I am making a noise and reaching out like this is because Makhosi is mentally ill and we have been telling her to get help for years but she refuses, so I want anyone who can assist to compel her to get the help she needs,” said Zandile.
Asked for evidence of her claims, Zandile furnished the publication with voice recordings of conversations between herself and their other sister, discussing Khoza’s alleged mistreatment towards them, and a copy of a will belonging to Khoza, dated May 2012.
In response, Khoza said that she was deeply disappointed by the actions of her sister and that she had taken the legal avenue to address the issue.
She said that her sister was being malicious, narcissistic, and that more than anything, her allegations were influenced by jealousy towards her for her life’s achievements.
Khoza refuted the allegations that were levelled against her.
Showing the title deeds, she said that she bought the land in Harewood after their family home burned down during apartheid. Her aim was to build a house for her parents and other siblings, and she left some land for herself which she claimed had been overtaken by Zandile using Khoza’s building materials and that she demanded transfer of ownership.
Khoza said that her sister did not contribute towards rates and other municipal expenses and that she was renting out the property.
She said that she had been appointed by her parents as the executor of their estate and also provided a copy of the title deed belonging to her late parents, citing that she was in the process of transferring it to the family trust.
Khoza also included a handwritten and signed will allegedly from her father in respect of their double-story home which she claimed to have helped to build.
Speaking about the will, Khoza said it was subsequently revised in 2013 following an attempt on her life. She also questioned her sister’s ability to access the document.
“I am so shocked on how she got it. I had a break-in at my house in Hillcrest where all documents were stolen, including the original copies of my title deeds. I’m terrified. Is this not malicious damage to my character? How can a family member do this. I am going to investigate how this last testament ended up in her possession,” she said.
Khoza said that Zandile’s release of the video taken during an altercation with her daughter Zama who had just experienced a meltdown was unforgivable and that it had been used by her sister to blackmail her into signing over the ownership of the property in Harewood, and that she had a good relationship with her two children.
She also denied having a hand in the death of her niece and that she was hurt by the allegations.
“I have opened a case against her and it pains me that I have done that but I had no other choice because she has put me in a compromising position.
“The truth is, knowing that she is a mother and it has come to this is painful to me because she is my sister and I love her. However there have to be consequences for her actions,” said Khoza.
Provincial Police Spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshuinda confirmed that the Hillcrest police were investigating a case of defamation of character.