Bosso offers temporary home to evicted supporter and family

In an act of compassion and solidarity, Highlanders Football Club has stepped in to provide temporary shelter to Melusi Khumalo and his family after they were evicted from their home of 35 years last Friday. The family, including Khumalo and his wheelchair-bound mother Sithokozile Khoza, were forced out of their house at the corner of Fort Street and Connaught Avenue when the messenger of the court seized their belongings and left them in front of the gate.

Speaking to Chronicle, Khumalo explained that despite their efforts to make arrangements for payment, including an agreement with a legal representative to pay US$200 per month, they were still evicted. The first installment of the agreed-upon payment was made on November 14, but it was not enough to prevent the eviction.

"We never denied that we owe, hence we got into a payment agreement via the legal representative where we agreed to pay US$200 per month and the first installment was paid on November 14," Khumalo said. "But despite our efforts, we were still kicked out."

The eviction has left the family in a desperate situation. "We had nowhere to go and had to sleep outside yesterday," Khumalo added, expressing the family's anguish.

Khumalo's mother, Sithokozile Khoza, who is also wheelchair-bound, voiced her pain over the harsh treatment she received after living in the house for 35 years. "It pains me to be kicked out like a dog from a house I've called home for all these years," she said, struggling to hold back tears. "I never missed paying my rent until I had the stroke that rendered me unable to work. Now I have nowhere to go."

In response to the family's plight, Highlanders FC CEO Brian Moyo offered the family temporary shelter at Hlabangana Lounge, a facility connected to the club. The family has been allowed to stay there while efforts are made to secure more permanent accommodation for them.

"We are doing everything we can to assist them in this difficult time," said Moyo. "We are committed to helping our supporters and members in times of need, and we will continue to work with them to ensure they have a place to stay while we search for a long-term solution."

The act of support has been widely appreciated by the club's members and the community, with many praising the gesture as an example of the strong bond between the club and its fans. As Highlanders continues to look into more permanent housing options for Khumalo and his family, the club has once again shown that it is more than just a football team – it is a family that stands by its own in times of need.