NO MAINTENANCE FOR 10 YEARS: "He is eating his money like peanuts, but not supporting his children"
THE public gallery of the Randburg Magistrate's Court turned into an interrogation room for a man who had failed to pay maintenance to his wife and three children for 10 years.
The Alexandra businessman made an impassioned plea for forgiveness to members of the ANC Women's League (ANCWL), his wife and members of the public - some of whom were also waiting for their maintenance cases to be heard - after he was ordered by his own lawyer to do so.
The man stepped out of the accused dock and walked up to them, asking them in isiZulu to forgive him.
The women in the gallery, however, were not impressed by his apology.
The man had failed to pay maintenance since he had left his wife in 2002 and owed her R459,000 in arrears.
He was arrested in December and released on bail of R50,000 on condition that he pays his maintenance. He only paid R5,000 of R18,000 and was arrested again on January 20.
ANC MP Pretty Xaba, who intervened in the matter on behalf of the man's ex-wife, took the lead in interrogating him, shouting and calling him a " bad father".
"He is eating his money like peanuts, but not supporting his children," she shouted.
The man's lawyer, Paul Leisher, asked Xaba to calm down.
He also got upset with his own client, saying he would never represent him again if he didn't pay for his children.
He then gave him a lecture on how to be a better father.
The man was ordered to pay his wife almost half a million rand in arrears.
He also has to pay R9,000 maintenance a month.
The man, who spent the past week in jail, was released yesterday.
Members of the ANCWL have been attending the trial.
Xaba got involved in the case after the mother of the children, who is a member of the women's league, approached the parliamentary constituency office for help.
When the matter was adjourned, Xaba emotionally hugged Leisher and the ANCWL members exited the court singing and hugging each other.
Man gets flak in court for not paying R500k Papgeld
NO MAINTENANCE FOR 10 YEARS: "He is eating his money like peanuts, but not supporting his children"
THE public gallery of the Randburg Magistrate's Court turned into an interrogation room for a man who had failed to pay maintenance to his wife and three children for 10 years.
The Alexandra businessman made an impassioned plea for forgiveness to members of the ANC Women's League (ANCWL), his wife and members of the public - some of whom were also waiting for their maintenance cases to be heard - after he was ordered by his own lawyer to do so.
The man stepped out of the accused dock and walked up to them, asking them in isiZulu to forgive him.
The women in the gallery, however, were not impressed by his apology.
The man had failed to pay maintenance since he had left his wife in 2002 and owed her R459,000 in arrears.
He was arrested in December and released on bail of R50,000 on condition that he pays his maintenance. He only paid R5,000 of R18,000 and was arrested again on January 20.
ANC MP Pretty Xaba, who intervened in the matter on behalf of the man's ex-wife, took the lead in interrogating him, shouting and calling him a " bad father".
"He is eating his money like peanuts, but not supporting his children," she shouted.
The man's lawyer, Paul Leisher, asked Xaba to calm down.
He also got upset with his own client, saying he would never represent him again if he didn't pay for his children.
He then gave him a lecture on how to be a better father.
The man was ordered to pay his wife almost half a million rand in arrears.
He also has to pay R9,000 maintenance a month.
The man, who spent the past week in jail, was released yesterday.
Members of the ANCWL have been attending the trial.
Xaba got involved in the case after the mother of the children, who is a member of the women's league, approached the parliamentary constituency office for help.
When the matter was adjourned, Xaba emotionally hugged Leisher and the ANCWL members exited the court singing and hugging each other.
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