Frank Maponya
A Limpopo man has accused the South African justice system of failing him after he was forced to accept the responsibility of maintaining two children he allegedly fathered with a woman.
Jim Chipape, 42, from Edwinsdale village, in Senwabarwana, said he was forced by a woman with whom he had a relationship several years ago to support the children. He said he was separated from the woman, identified as Suzan Mabote, in January 1993.
After the separation, Mabote allegedly had two children from other relationships. But Chipape is still expected to support the children he allegedly does not know.
An angry Chipape related his story to Sowetan yesterday.
"I was romantically involved with Mabote in 1986. After she left me in 1993, she had children with other men. I do not understand why I should be made to pay for children I do not know," he said.
He said he had been to maintenance courts several times and that paternity tests had also exonerated him.
"Besides the paternity results, the maintenance courts still want me to pay for the children. I suspect that woman has arranged with maintenance officers to defraud me," he said.
The children were born in 1991 and 1994 respectively. He said he was working in Germiston when Mabote gave birth to the children.
"When those children were born I was no longer involved with Mabote. I wonder why am I being forced to support children that are not mine," said Chipape.
According to court records which Sowetan also possesses, the paternity test had revealed that Chipape could not be excluded from being the father of the children.
It reads in part: "Two paternity tests had been conducted by a doctor in 1998 and 2005 respectively.
"They both showed that Chipape could not be excluded from being the biological father of the children."
Approached for comment yesterday, Mabote said all she wanted was for Chipape to take the responsibility of raising his own children.
"Chipape knows very well that he fathered those children and he must take responsibility for their upbringing," she said.
Man cries foul after court orders him to pay papgeld
Frank Maponya
A Limpopo man has accused the South African justice system of failing him after he was forced to accept the responsibility of maintaining two children he allegedly fathered with a woman.
Jim Chipape, 42, from Edwinsdale village, in Senwabarwana, said he was forced by a woman with whom he had a relationship several years ago to support the children. He said he was separated from the woman, identified as Suzan Mabote, in January 1993.
After the separation, Mabote allegedly had two children from other relationships. But Chipape is still expected to support the children he allegedly does not know.
An angry Chipape related his story to Sowetan yesterday.
"I was romantically involved with Mabote in 1986. After she left me in 1993, she had children with other men. I do not understand why I should be made to pay for children I do not know," he said.
He said he had been to maintenance courts several times and that paternity tests had also exonerated him.
"Besides the paternity results, the maintenance courts still want me to pay for the children. I suspect that woman has arranged with maintenance officers to defraud me," he said.
The children were born in 1991 and 1994 respectively. He said he was working in Germiston when Mabote gave birth to the children.
"When those children were born I was no longer involved with Mabote. I wonder why am I being forced to support children that are not mine," said Chipape.
According to court records which Sowetan also possesses, the paternity test had revealed that Chipape could not be excluded from being the father of the children.
It reads in part: "Two paternity tests had been conducted by a doctor in 1998 and 2005 respectively.
"They both showed that Chipape could not be excluded from being the biological father of the children."
Approached for comment yesterday, Mabote said all she wanted was for Chipape to take the responsibility of raising his own children.
"Chipape knows very well that he fathered those children and he must take responsibility for their upbringing," she said.
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