adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 73-YEAR-OLD granny has dragged her son-in-law to court for dumping his three children into her care. Tanyala Moyo of Dombodema area in Bulilima told the court that Toki Ngwenya, 65, dumped his children at her homestead after the death of his wife in 2011 and went on to marry another wife. The old woman demanded $150 as maintenance for the three children aged nine, 11 and 13 years from her son-in-law.
“When my daughter died in 2011 my son-in-law dumped their three children at my homestead and directed me to look after them.
“ I assumed that he would be sending money for their upkeep since he is employed but I’ve never received a cent from him.
“I’ve been struggling to feed these children and sending them to school. His first born child should be doing her Form One but she’s idle at home because I can’t raise her school fees,” said the old woman.
Moyo said she weaves baskets for a living and the little money she earns was going towards the upkeep of her grandchildren.
She said she had tried several times to engage Ngwenya over child support but he dismissed her.
The old woman said her son-in-law was not concerned about his children’s welfare as he did not even bother to visit them.
Moyo said the children were suffering while their father was alive and working.
“The children have no clothes. The two who are in school have been repeating grades after missing out on classes due to unpaid school fees. I don’t know how my son-in-law expects me to fend for them old as I am,” she said.
Moyo said she wanted $150 that would cater for school fees, uniforms, clothes, food and other groceries for the children.
Ngwenya, who works as a security guard at a nightclub in Plumtree, said he could not afford to pay $150 for his children’s upkeep.
He said he had not abandoned his children but his mother-in-law was denying him access to them.
Ngwenya said he earned R1,000 from his job as a security guard while he earns $100 from his war veteran’s pension.
He said he had other responsibilities which needed money.
“I’ve a wife and other children who look up to me as their sole bread winner. I can’t afford to pay all that amount for these three children because I’ll be left with nothing,” he said.
Ngwenya said he loved his children and was willing to fend for them if given the opportunity.
Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, ordered Ngwenya to pay $50 every month towards the upkeep of his children.
In addition he was ordered to pay school fees for his three children.
Online Reporter