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Principal traditionally weds pupil

20/06/2011 00:00:00 LUCKY TSABEDZE

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SITSATSAWENI – A Principal has traditionally wed an 18-year-old girl and allegedly refuses to let her complete her schooling.

The Principal of Woodlands High School, Stanley Matsebula (48), has made a wife out of 18-year-old Simangele Khumalo, a Form IV pupil at Ntjanini High School.

Matsebula married the pupil on January 16, this year, just as she was about to repeat her Form IV, her mother, Bonsile Khumalo said.

She has since dropped out of school.

The teenager went missing on a morning in January, and a day later the family received the news that she had married Matsebula at Mahamba. Her family learnt this when a man brought umsasane, a peice of meat that signifies the kuteka custom.

Matsebula is currently not at work, pending finalisation of investigations into this matter by the Ministry of Education and Training.

The former pupil’s parents said they have been to the Siteki and Sigodvweni Police Stations seeking assistance in the matter.

As of yesterday, the girl was still with Matsebula.

Her mother claimed the girl had stayed with Matsebula from January to March, without visiting them as per the dictates of a traditional wedding.

Cried

The mother claims that the few times she has managed to see her daughter, Simangele cried and said she was not happy with her new life as a wife.

Bonsile said the girl’s father was determined to send the 18-year-old back to school.

"Her father decided to go to the police because, in the many attempts to meet Matsebula, we failed and we started to think he did not want to develop a relationship with us. So we decided to go to the Siteki police and later the Sigodvweni police to inform them of the matter, because it was becoming clearer that he was holding our daughter against her will," said Bonsile.

She said the family was not aware that their daughter had a relationship, let alone that she was ready to get married.

She alleged that her daughter once hinted that she wants to return home.

"Her father did not want to accept the umsasane when they brought it. He was totally against it but his brothers thought he ought to reconsider his stance, for the sake of the child," said Khumalo.

The Ministry of Education and Training’s Communications Officer, Thembisile Hlophe, said the Ministry has written a letter to Matsebula, to which they expect him to respond by June 23, 2011.

‘...father offered her to me’

MANZINI – Woodlands High School Principal Stanley Matsebula has said he was offered the girl to marry by her father.

Matsebula said the Khumalo family, the father in particular, offered the girl to him at the reed dance ceremony last year.

Matsebula said when he looked at what he was being offered, he was satisfied.

He said he forgot about the matter but in December 2010, the girl’s father, Elphus Jacob Khumalo, went to his home at Matsapha to remind him of the offer made in August 2010.

"It was after examination results were out when Elphus Khumalo came to me and said I should marry the girl because she had failed Form IV, twice. He told me she had failed to finish her education. I asked him how she will make a living if she has not finished her education and my father-in-law pointed out that I have always found jobs for my other wives," explained Matsebula.

He said the two then agreed that a company be set-up, in which the 18-year-old would work as a secretary. Elphus is a builder, so a construction company was established.

"I am not familiar with construction so how would I think of it as an opportunity? It is he (Elphus) who came up with the idea and I financed it. That led to the birth of STHEMNA Investments (Proprietary) Limited, in which I hold 70 per cent shares, the father holds 20 per cent and 10 per cent is for my wife," Matsebula claimed.

Matsebula, driving his point home, said Elphus conducted some research leading to the establishment of the company.

"He convinced me that Micro Projects gives construction companies tenders, and if we were properly registered, we would win some. So he looked up the requirements for a company to be considered properly registered by Micro Projects, which mostly finances the construction of schools. The father, merely being a builder, was going to work for the company.

"Mind you, all this was in December 2010, before I married my wife in January 16, 2011. To tell you the truth, I didn’t even propose love to her, she was offered to me," maintained Matsebula.

Responding to the Ministry of Education and Training’s letter, Matsebula said it seemed the ministry had decided to take sides over the matter.

"They have chosen to side with the girl’s family on the matter, even before hearing my side of the story. They say I must respond before 23 June 2011, and then they tell me the trial will be on June 27, 2011," said Matsebula.

Comments

This man must be sick up in his mind. How can an old man of his age disturb a young future woman from her education? I don't think his is is a real teacher. How many pupils he has married, she's not the first one I know. Utsi he never proposed love from her and why he then married her. How can you marry someone you never proposed. Phela a man must first have love for a woman, propose love, then the woman agrees and marrying is the last thing to be done. Government must sort this man before he marries all our pupil lakaNgwane.
Jun 20, 2011, 11:44 AM, BeePee Goje (beepeeg@yahoo.com)