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PASTOR IN COURT FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN HIS CHILD

19/08/2014 06:12:00 BY JABULISA DLAMINI

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MANZINI – A well-known pastor has been taken to court for allegedly failing to maintain his five-year-old child that he got after impregnating a high school girl in 2009.

Pastor Teddy Dlamini of Holy Spirit Embassy Ministry situated at the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS) has been served with a notice of application papers filed in court where he is ordered and directed to contribute a sum of E2 000 a month towards the maintenance of the minor child born out of wedlock.

The applicant in the matter, Veleleni Nxumalo, is represented by Charity Simelane of Nkomondze Attorneys-Indluyagogo Child Rights Trust.
The notice of application papers state that the pastor and Nxumalo were involved in a love relationship and the child was born out of wedlock on September 8, 2009.

“This happened while I was attending school at Shewula High School, the respondent either refuses, neglects and fails to contribute towards the upkeep and maintenance of the child. He has also shunned his responsibilities towards the child from birth to date. The child resides with me at Shewula in the Lubombo region and attends preschool,” the papers read.
The papers further state that the applicant is young and still pursuing her studies, hence she cannot maintain the child as her grandmother, who is a pensioner, has been maintaining the child.

“The respondent has evaded his legal duty to maintain the said child and left him to survive on the food and necessities provided for by my family and friends. He has failed to maintain the child despite me having made numerous requests to him to provide for him. The respondent has also behaved unlovingly towards the child and further ceased his crucial obligations towards him,” the papers read.

They also sate that the applicant’s E2 000, which is sought as maintenance, is well within the means of the respondent as he lives a moderately comfortable lifestyle. “As the child’s mother, I also have a legal duty to maintain him, however, I must clearly state that I am currently unemployed and just completed school at Vuvulane High School. I have currently applied at U-Tech College to pursue a course in a bid to ensure a better future for the child,” the papers further read.

Presiding over the matter was Magistrate Dumisa Mazibuko, who ordered that the respondent must contribute the amount of E2 000 a month towards the child’s maintenance.