News / Local
Deputy Mayor refutes child neglect claims
16 Sep 2014 at 08:26hrs | Views
BULAWAYO Deputy Mayor Gift Banda who is entangled in a maintenance dispute with a city woman has disputed the claims as "null and void".
According to an affidavit which he tendered at the Bulawayo Maintenance Court on Monday afternoon, after his ex-lover Kholiwe Sitshoni took a swipe at him saying he defaulted on paying maintenance for his five-year-old-child, Banda however, said his payments were up-to-date.
He said he was giving the child's monthly upkeep to its maternal grandmother since the mother stays in South Africa.
He also disputed the amount which was raised by Sitshoni as medical expenses saying he was never informed that the child was not feeling well for the past two months.
"I received an affidavit in respect of the arrears in maintenance, medical bills and school fees ($2 400). I dispute being in arrears for school fees in respect of the minor child as I have contributed towards school fess of the child in terms of the maintenance order by giving the money to the child's grandmother. The only outstanding fees are for the third term which is yet to become due and payable.
"I dispute the amount being raised as medical expenses as the same are not supported my medical bills. I was never informed that the child was not feeling well and as such therefore there is need for the medical bills to be produced. The figure claimed is unreasonable and thus the need for the bills to be produced.
"The maintenance amount for the upkeep of the minor child in terms in the sum of $1 200 being claimed is not correct as I have been paying the monthly sums to the child's grandmother since the mother of the child stays in South Africa," he said.
His response came after reports that he was facing arrest for allegedly defaulting on paying maintenance.
Banda is alleged to have acknowledged being in arrears amounting to $900 before Sitshoni approached the Maintenance Court applying for a nullification of the order stating that he had not paid anything since January.
"He has never been consistent since the child was born. It has been a rollercoaster ride from the onset. He has subjected my daughter to second-class treatment. Now he wants her to attend a third grade school, because he claims he cannot afford to take her to the schools where her sisters and brothers attend.
They are/have been to Falcon College, Masiyephambili and Dominican Convent," Sitshoni was quoted by our Sister paper the Sunday News as having said.
According to an affidavit which he tendered at the Bulawayo Maintenance Court on Monday afternoon, after his ex-lover Kholiwe Sitshoni took a swipe at him saying he defaulted on paying maintenance for his five-year-old-child, Banda however, said his payments were up-to-date.
He said he was giving the child's monthly upkeep to its maternal grandmother since the mother stays in South Africa.
He also disputed the amount which was raised by Sitshoni as medical expenses saying he was never informed that the child was not feeling well for the past two months.
"I received an affidavit in respect of the arrears in maintenance, medical bills and school fees ($2 400). I dispute being in arrears for school fees in respect of the minor child as I have contributed towards school fess of the child in terms of the maintenance order by giving the money to the child's grandmother. The only outstanding fees are for the third term which is yet to become due and payable.
"The maintenance amount for the upkeep of the minor child in terms in the sum of $1 200 being claimed is not correct as I have been paying the monthly sums to the child's grandmother since the mother of the child stays in South Africa," he said.
His response came after reports that he was facing arrest for allegedly defaulting on paying maintenance.
Banda is alleged to have acknowledged being in arrears amounting to $900 before Sitshoni approached the Maintenance Court applying for a nullification of the order stating that he had not paid anything since January.
"He has never been consistent since the child was born. It has been a rollercoaster ride from the onset. He has subjected my daughter to second-class treatment. Now he wants her to attend a third grade school, because he claims he cannot afford to take her to the schools where her sisters and brothers attend.
They are/have been to Falcon College, Masiyephambili and Dominican Convent," Sitshoni was quoted by our Sister paper the Sunday News as having said.
Source - B-Metro
