SOLDIER OFFERS E250 FOR HIS CHILD’S MAINTENANCE

MANZINI – A woman is demanding E3 800 from a member of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF) for the maintenance of his seven children.

However, the soldier informed the court that he could only afford E250 a month.
Mavela Mavimbela, a sergeant based at Nkoyoyo Royal Residence, said, after receiving the order that he contribute the amount towards the children’s maintenance, he could only afford E250 for the youngest child, who lives with his first wife, Lindiwe Mavimbela.

He said the other six children did not live with her but with relatives.
In the notice of application papers, the soldier stated that the E3 800 ordered by the court was a lot considering that he also had to maintain his 10 other children, his second wife as well as his mother.

Mavela also stated that his monthly salary of E8 000 was hardly enough for all his dependants.
Lindiwe insisted in the papers that the E250 was not enough and could not do anything in today’s economic standards. “The E250 will not be enough for all the children let alone for the one child who attends preschool and has to carry a lunch box to school every day.

“If he had the children’s best interest at heart, he would know that E250 was nothing when is comes to all the children’s maintenance. My main concern is to see the children maintained adequately,” Lindiwe stated in the papers.

She further stated that she was employed in one of the firms in Matsapha and earned E1 300 a month. Lindiwe also said she and all the children lived in a small flat whereas the USDF member stayed in a decent house which he had built for his second wife at Mankayane.

“Whenever he visits us, he would come empty-handed thus shifting the whole duty to provide for the household to me. The respondent always refused and neglected his legal duty to support the family and I would be forced to use my salary to cater for the children’s needs.

“Upon request he would only give me E100 a month ... I have pleaded with him to assist me financially but makes broken promises.
“When he finally does anything, he onlys buy a 10kg bag of sugar,” the applicant stated in her papers.

Lindiwe also revealed that the second wife, whom her husband married in 2005 and whom he claimed he was also maintaining, was gainfully employed as a member of the USDF. She stated that her husband had neglected his duties such that one of the older children had to drop out of school due to unpaid school fees.

“I am convinced that the respondent would be in a position to contribute the required amount of E3 800 and still be left with sufficient funds for his livelihood as he is gainfully employed as a sergeant in the USDF and earns about E12 000 a month,” she said in the papers.

The applicant is  represented by Zolile Mkhonta of Sukati-Msibi Attorneys while the respondent is represented by Sifiso Jele of Mabila Attorneys.
The respondent’s attorney maintained that they would be able to offer the E250 while Mkhonta informed the court that they would not accept an amount less than E1 000. The court issued an interim order of E500 a month as maintenance towards the required amount of E3 800 and the matter was removed from the roll.

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