JOBURG businesswoman and her family living in fear.
This after they received threats for allegedly cancelling their partnership with the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC)'s Silo branch and businessman, Hamilton Ndlovu.
Businesswoman, Pretty Xozumti and her daughter, Nqobile Mukahanana, who operate a bus company, made these allegations in two separate affidavits they deposed at Rosebank Police Station in 2025.
In her affidavit, Mukahanana said they forged the partnership after being introduced to Ndlovu by a man known as Prophet Joseph Machete. After the meeting, she said they were invited to the IPHC's headquarters in Zuurbekom, where she was accompanied by her sister and Ndlovu.
"We met a man they referred to as Leonard Modise and his wife. Upon our arrival we drove to what seemed like the residential side of the church. Then we drove to the buses in a convoy with our cars and other people I believe work for Modise. Upon seeing the buses, we took a walk around the church compound and talked about the church youth centre," she said.
Mukahanana said they were formally introduced and were later told that Ndlovu would handle their communication. She said they returned to Zuurbekom in November 2024, where they formally did a presentation about how the partnership should work.
"We were introduced to Malgas Tshedza, who they said was to represent Mr Modise in what was to be a newly formed partnership trade name DiKA XORSOS," she said.
She said they experienced several teething problems regarding bus permits and fares, which resulted in many clients cancelling their trips and demanding refunds.
She alleged that Ndlovu and his lawyer, named Lulu, paid them a surprise visit at their offices in Durbanville on a Sunday, where he, to their shock, introduced himself as the new owner.
A week later, she said, Ndlovu returned to the office where he yelled at staff and disrupted their operations.
"He asserted that the company and buses belonged to him, revealing his true intentions. It became clear that Hamilton never intended to be a genuine partner but rather sought to take control of the company," she said.
She said in the final incident, Ndlovu barged into their offices and accused her and her mother of being thieves.
"They even went as far as switching off the buses while they were on the road. This is when mom decided that the best way to handle this situation is to come out of this partnership. Till today there are threats and messages sent to our phones simultaneously from Machete. We are scared for our lives and very uncomfortable as such is new to us," she said.
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Xozumti alleged that they began receiving threats after pulling out of the contracts due to non-compliance in the business. She said that after signing their partnership, she took a trip to Zimbabwe to reopen some of the offices that had been closed.
"Hamilton and Machete assured me that the bus will fetch the documents ahead. The buses were starting to move with my number plates, and I confronted them. I then decided to resign and cancel my contract with them as they started to threaten and intimidate my family and I.
"I was uncomfortable with the lack of compliance, I went to seek legal advice, and my lawyer sent them an email to cancel our contract on 10 January 2025. Now they are busy calling and threatening my life, I had to move my kids from our family home," she said.
She alleged that they told her there was nothing she could do because they had protection from the police. "They also stated in messages that they paid their own police, the Hawks and criminals to come after me and my kids. I am at the point where I need safety for me and my kids and wish to be free and safe in my own space.
"Due to the fact of the harassment, I decided I couldn't be involved with them anymore and I decided to take my discs and plates as I did not want to be involved with them or implicated in whatever dealings they were having," she said.
Speaking to Daily Sun, Mukahanana confirmed that she deposed herself to the affidavit but declined to comment further due to the sensitivity of the matter, saying she still fears for her life.
Teenage Khumbe of Khumbe Solutions said the two women gave him the affidavits, which he submitted to the Hawks to investigate allegations that the IPHC buses were possibly violating immigration, customs and excise laws.
This after they were allegedly transporting church members in and out of South Africa without proper documentation.
Last week, Hawks spokeswoman Brigadier Thandi Mbombo said they advised Khumbe to refer the matter to police stations.
However, Khumbe this week insisted that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Hawks and should be investigated by them.
IPHC and Ndlovu's comments were unavailable at the time of publication.
