News / Local
Woman demands $7,000 maintenance
05 Sep 2014 at 06:32hrs | Views
AN unemployed Cowdray Park woman yesterday demanded $7,000 lump sum maintenance payment from her injiva husband for her upkeep and that of their two children.
Jacqueline Mahlangu told Bulawayo magistrate Vivian Ndlovu that she was tired of fending for her children single handedly while Thembinkosi Abraham, a single father of nine who is a driver by profession, contributed nothing.
Abraham has been paying a $60 monthly payment, but was said to default sometimes.
Mahlangu demanded the once off $7,000 payment claiming she would not trouble him again.
"He does not want to support his children and we don't even know where he stays. This is going to be the fourth term since he last paid his children's school fees," she said.
"I want him to pay $7,000 to take care of our children for the next two years.
"If he gives us the money I will stay away from him and the money will ease my burden of reminding him to take responsibility of his children."
In his response, Abraham told the magistrate that he could not afford to make the once off payment as he has plans to purchase a minibus also worth $7,000.
"Your honour giving this woman $7,000 will kill my future plans. I would rather continue paying $60 maintenance monthly as this will give me a chance to grow my business," he said.
He added that he was not employed at the moment and promised to settle his children's school fees.
"I left my job in South Africa because it was not successful. I am currently not working and I will pay fees by September 20.
"I will go and make a payment arrangement for the kids at school and I will clear $120 arrears I owe the school."
Mahlangu was quick to remind the court that Abraham was always failing to pay $60 hence the need to pay the lump sum.
However, magistrate Ndlovu dismissed the application for the lump sum saying if Abraham pays it, the man's other seven children will suffer.
She ordered Abraham to pay the school fees by September 20, and to continue paying the $60 maintenance for both of his children.
This is not the first time a woman has claimed thousands of dollars in maintenance.
Recently, an ex-lover to the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire, filed a court application demanding $1,200 monthly maintenance for the upkeep of their three-year-old child. Sungura musician Alick Macheso's former second wife, Fortunate Tafadzwa Mapako, also made headlines after she demanded $7,130 for the upkeep of the couple's two minor children, but the claim was revised downwards by the court.
Jacqueline Mahlangu told Bulawayo magistrate Vivian Ndlovu that she was tired of fending for her children single handedly while Thembinkosi Abraham, a single father of nine who is a driver by profession, contributed nothing.
Abraham has been paying a $60 monthly payment, but was said to default sometimes.
Mahlangu demanded the once off $7,000 payment claiming she would not trouble him again.
"He does not want to support his children and we don't even know where he stays. This is going to be the fourth term since he last paid his children's school fees," she said.
"I want him to pay $7,000 to take care of our children for the next two years.
"If he gives us the money I will stay away from him and the money will ease my burden of reminding him to take responsibility of his children."
In his response, Abraham told the magistrate that he could not afford to make the once off payment as he has plans to purchase a minibus also worth $7,000.
"Your honour giving this woman $7,000 will kill my future plans. I would rather continue paying $60 maintenance monthly as this will give me a chance to grow my business," he said.
He added that he was not employed at the moment and promised to settle his children's school fees.
"I left my job in South Africa because it was not successful. I am currently not working and I will pay fees by September 20.
"I will go and make a payment arrangement for the kids at school and I will clear $120 arrears I owe the school."
Mahlangu was quick to remind the court that Abraham was always failing to pay $60 hence the need to pay the lump sum.
However, magistrate Ndlovu dismissed the application for the lump sum saying if Abraham pays it, the man's other seven children will suffer.
She ordered Abraham to pay the school fees by September 20, and to continue paying the $60 maintenance for both of his children.
This is not the first time a woman has claimed thousands of dollars in maintenance.
Recently, an ex-lover to the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Cde Dzikamai Mavhaire, filed a court application demanding $1,200 monthly maintenance for the upkeep of their three-year-old child. Sungura musician Alick Macheso's former second wife, Fortunate Tafadzwa Mapako, also made headlines after she demanded $7,130 for the upkeep of the couple's two minor children, but the claim was revised downwards by the court.
Source - chronicle
