Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A BITTER dispute over a Ford Ranger once owned by the late illegal diamond panner, Brighton Sithole, has resurfaced at Chief Mutasa’s community court.
Namatai Mhlanga, accused of selling the vehicle, finally appeared before the court and surrendered the money, but Sithole’s family insists they want the car itself returned.
Mhlanga admitted selling the vehicle in South Africa, claiming he did so under instructions from the deceased’s relatives, and transferred the proceeds to them. Yet despite his explanation, the family maintains the vehicle should have been brought home as part of Brighton’s estate.
Brighton died in South Africa in 2024, and the case has dragged on, with Mhlanga initially failing to appear in court.
His eventual appearance last Saturday reignited tensions over the vehicle’s ownership.
Brighton’s brother, Lawrence Sithole, accused Mhlanga of manipulating their elderly mother into handing over crucial documents before disposing of the car. “Mhlanga tricked my mother into giving him my late brother’s passport.
“He sold the car in South Africa without our consent. My mother told him not to sell it because we wanted it brought here, but he went ahead and sold it. He sent us money, but we doubted the actual price,” said Lawrence.
The family argues the vehicle carries emotional weight and should have been returned to Zimbabwe to support Brighton’s children.
Mhlanga, however, defended his actions, saying he acted in good faith as a friend and neighbour.
“I am the one who took Brighton to South Africa. In 2024, he became seriously ill, and we had to sell some of his belongings to pay hospital bills. While we were preparing to bring him back home, he died. The hospital then demanded payment of outstanding bills,” he told the court.
Mhlanga said he travelled to Zimbabwe for Brighton’s funeral where the issue of the vehicle was discussed with the family.
“When he died, I came for the funeral, and they gave me the nod to sell his car. They also gave me a bank account number so that I could send them the money,” he said, adding that he later returned to South Africa where he sold the Ford Ranger before transferring the money to the family.
“I sold the car and sent them everything I got. I gave them R95 000, and they received it through the bank. It was about US$4 500,” he said, adding that he was shocked to later see accusations circulating on social media claiming that he had confiscated the vehicle.
“I was surprised to hear them saying I took Brighton’s car. They are the ones who instructed me to sell it and give them the money,” he said.
Mhlanga also told the court that tensions between him and the family escalated to the point where he was accused of being responsible for Brighton’s death.
“These people dumped Brighton’s passport at my house. They accused me of killing him because they thought I wanted his car,” he said.
However, Lawrence rejected Mhlanga’s version of events, and maintained that the family had never authorised the sale of the vehicle.
“We clearly told him not to sell the car. We wanted it brought to Zimbabwe,” said Lawrence.
The dispute stems from earlier claims by relatives that Brighton’s spirit had manifested through a medium, accusing some family members and associates of wrongdoing following his death.
During previous proceedings before Chief Mutasa’s community court, the alleged spirit claimed that the vehicle and money were confiscated after his death, and demanded their recovery.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Chief Mutasa urged the Sithole family to return the money to Mhlanga. Mhlanga is expected to buy the vehicle and give it to the deceased’s wife so that she uses it to take care of the children.
“The car should be used to take care of the deceased’s children. In fact, the surviving spouse should have been the one holding the money in question and not the deceased’s mother.
“She is the surviving spouse. Give her the money so that she gets back that vehicle if that is what she wants to do. That vehicle or money should be used to take care of the deceased’s children,” ruled Chief Mutasa.
