adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 72-YEAR-OLD Plumtree woman has dragged her adopted grandson to court seeking an eviction order citing his abusive tendencies.
Senzeni Ndlovu was granted the order against 22-year-old Jabulani Tshuma whom she has been living with for the past 15 years.The elderly woman broke into tears in court as she narrated how Tshuma has been mistreating her. She said she adopted Tshuma in 1999 when he was in Grade One following his mother’s death.
His mother approached Ndlovu and asked her to take care of her son in the event of her death since she was ill.
“I was close to his mother and she approached me while she was ill and asked me to take her son in after she died. I did as she had requested. I put Jabulani in school up until he reached Grade Seven. Thereafter he refused to proceed to Form One and that is when he became troublesome,” said Ndlovu.
It was a touching moment when Ndlovu confronted Tshuma in court and told him that she could not bear living with the person that he had become.
“Jabu, I had promised your mother that I would look after you no matter what but I do not think I can stand what you have become. I cannot stand your drinking habits and your rudeness any more. I feel like I am chasing away my own child but there is nothing I can do,” said a tearful Ndlovu.
She added: “Your worship, I cannot bear to live with this boy anymore. He has been nothing but trouble to me. I have become of age and I cannot continue living under such harsh conditions otherwise I will die of stress. I want him out of my house.”
She said Tshuma has been insulting and threatening to beat her up. At one time he is alleged to have threatened to burn down her house.
“He refuses to assist me with house chores and he directs all the money he gets towards buying beer. I have been doing all the cooking and washing alone while he sits and eats and I cannot stand this anymore,” she added.
In granting the order, Plumtree magistrate Livard Philemon lashed out at Tshuma for being unappreciative.
“It is surprising that all this while you knew that this old woman had adopted you but you chose to behave the way you did. You are ungrateful and all you have done is to spit on this woman’s face. As old as you are you should be the one looking after this old woman and not the other way round. A number of orphans would kill to be in your position,” he said.
Philemon ordered Tshuma to move out of the complainant’s house.
Tshuma tried to plead with the court by pointing out that he did not have a place to go but Philemon dismissed his plight.
Online Reporter