News / Local
Man awarded $20 maintenance
05 Jul 2013 at 03:59hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO man has approached the courts seeking to compel his wife to pay maintenance for their minor child.
Mr Zacheous Peresu, whose age was not given but residing at House Number 12222 Pumula South and his wife, Mrs Sifiso Ntini-Peresu (42) have been on separation since 2006.
The couple has two daughters and is still in the process of divorcing.
Mr Peresu, a part-time worker at Premier High School in Pumula South dragged his wife to the Maintenance Court at Tredgold Building yesterday saying she has not been involved in the upkeep of their two children for the past seven years.
He said he was earning $400 per month and the money was not enough for him to take care of the children.
In his founding affidavit, Mr Peresu had said he wanted $180 for the two children.
The ages of the children were not given but one is now above 18 while the other is still a minor.
However, Mr Peresu later revised the figure to $25 for the minor child when the matter was heard before Ms Charity Maphosa.
He said he wanted the money for school fees, uniforms and stationery, groceries and other expenses for the minor child.
The magistrate granted him $20 to be paid by Mrs Ntini-Peresu starting at the end of this month.
"You are 42 years old, able bodied and staying in a family house where your brother is looking after you. You have no responsibility at all hence you have no excuse whatsoever of not contributing towards the upkeep of the child," said Ms Maphosa to the respondent.
"At least pay $20 per month starting on 31 July. I think your brother would be able to help you to pay because it seems he even buys you clothes. You are one of the few mothers who do not care about their children and one wonders whether your brother's wife consents to him giving you money everyday."
Added the magistrate: "The court looks at whether you are capable of paying or not. Clearly it shows you are able bodied and employable. You do not necessarily need to wear a jacket and tie and go to into an office to work for you to fend for your children, you can do part time jobs and get little money for their upkeep."
Mrs Ntini-Peresu told the court that she could not afford to pay the money as she had no source of income.
She said she was not employed and was dependent on her brother.
"I have not been employed since I lost my job in 2008. I have no source of income and I depend on my brother. We stay in a family house and I also look after my other child who is 21 years old," said Mrs Ntini-Peresu.
She said when she left her matrimonial home she did not take the two children with her because she did not want to ask for money from her husband for their upkeep.
In response, Mr Peresu said he approached the court to remind her of her duties as a mother.
"She last visited the children in 2008. She has not done anything for the children for the past seven years and all I am seeking is $25 per month.
"The court should remind her of her duties as a mother even if it means buying a pen or pencil for our child," he said.
Mr Zacheous Peresu, whose age was not given but residing at House Number 12222 Pumula South and his wife, Mrs Sifiso Ntini-Peresu (42) have been on separation since 2006.
The couple has two daughters and is still in the process of divorcing.
Mr Peresu, a part-time worker at Premier High School in Pumula South dragged his wife to the Maintenance Court at Tredgold Building yesterday saying she has not been involved in the upkeep of their two children for the past seven years.
He said he was earning $400 per month and the money was not enough for him to take care of the children.
In his founding affidavit, Mr Peresu had said he wanted $180 for the two children.
The ages of the children were not given but one is now above 18 while the other is still a minor.
However, Mr Peresu later revised the figure to $25 for the minor child when the matter was heard before Ms Charity Maphosa.
He said he wanted the money for school fees, uniforms and stationery, groceries and other expenses for the minor child.
The magistrate granted him $20 to be paid by Mrs Ntini-Peresu starting at the end of this month.
"At least pay $20 per month starting on 31 July. I think your brother would be able to help you to pay because it seems he even buys you clothes. You are one of the few mothers who do not care about their children and one wonders whether your brother's wife consents to him giving you money everyday."
Added the magistrate: "The court looks at whether you are capable of paying or not. Clearly it shows you are able bodied and employable. You do not necessarily need to wear a jacket and tie and go to into an office to work for you to fend for your children, you can do part time jobs and get little money for their upkeep."
Mrs Ntini-Peresu told the court that she could not afford to pay the money as she had no source of income.
She said she was not employed and was dependent on her brother.
"I have not been employed since I lost my job in 2008. I have no source of income and I depend on my brother. We stay in a family house and I also look after my other child who is 21 years old," said Mrs Ntini-Peresu.
She said when she left her matrimonial home she did not take the two children with her because she did not want to ask for money from her husband for their upkeep.
In response, Mr Peresu said he approached the court to remind her of her duties as a mother.
"She last visited the children in 2008. She has not done anything for the children for the past seven years and all I am seeking is $25 per month.
"The court should remind her of her duties as a mother even if it means buying a pen or pencil for our child," he said.
Source - chronicle
