HAPPY GRANNY
Tshegetseng Itshokeng, a 79-year-old grandmother, left the Kanye Magistrate Court with a smile on Monday after securing maintenance fees from the fathers of four of her grandchildren.
These children are the offspring of her fourth-born daughter, Omphemetse Itshokeng, 47.
The case was presided over by Kanye Principal Magistrate Reuben Sebetlela, who had adjourned the matter the previous Monday. The elderly Tshegetseng, who relies on a walking stick, had stormed into the court, pleading for help with her daughter who she said was neglecting her responsibility to care for her four children.
Struggling to speak, the devastated grandmother recounted how she had been caring for her grandchildren using her old age pension money, despite Omphemetse, the children's mother, having a permanent job as a cook at Ntebogang Junior Secondary School in Kanye. Tshegetseng lamented that her daughter provided no financial support for the four children.
Last week Magistrate Sebetlela postponed the case to August 12th, ordering the court clerk to serve summonses to the fathers of the children so that they would appear in court.
He emphasised that cases involving children are sensitive and require urgent attention, as the children could be suffering despite having living fathers who could provide for them.
Previously, Tshegetseng had demanded P700 per month from her daughter to help care for the children, but Omphemetse claimed she could only afford P300. This prompted the magistrate to summon the fathers of the four children.
On Monday, the fathers, or their representatives, appeared in court. Tshegetseng was shocked to discover that some of the fathers were her neighbours and relatives, people she had never known were the fathers of her grandchildren.
Two of the fathers were represented by close relatives, as one lives in Boteti, and another is in prison. The father of Omphemetse's third child was represented by his mother, Boitumelo Kalake, who explained that the father was in prison. The magistrate warned Kalake that she would bear full responsibility for the child since she had chosen to represent her son instead of requesting the court to summon him from prison.
Magistrate Sebetlela reminded Kalake that her grandchild was suffering and starving, despite having living relatives. Kalake admitted she had only learned about the child when he was already schooling, doing Form One.
The magistrate rebuked her, stating that knowing about the child only when he was older was no excuse for neglecting him. When asked how much she could contribute to the child's maintenance, Kalake offered P150, but the magistrate negotiated it up to P250.
He also ordered that the child be provided with a school uniform and casual clothing. Additionally, Kalake was instructed to ensure the father appears in court after his release in January so the maintenance fee could be reassessed.
The father of the fourth child was represented by Kennedy Otlaadisa, an Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) former councillor for Bagami Ward in Kanye. The father, Thatayaone Boitshoko, was said to be residing in Boteti and is Otlaadisa's younger brother.
Otlaadisa claimed that they had previously expressed interest in caring for the child and had been supporting him. However, the grandmother had come for the child with police officers and often refused their financial contributions.
The magistrate dismissed this as an excuse and fined Otlaadisa P300. He was also ordered to provide the child with a school uniform and casual clothes. The mother, Omphemetse, was similarly fined P300.
Another father, Thatayaone Wanthata, who was previously said to be at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital, was also present in court. Tshegetseng revealed that Wanthata was a relative whom she thought was married and never
suspected to be the father of one of her grandchildren.
Wanthata was fined P300 and ordered to provide a school uniform for the child. All parents were given Tshegetseng's account number and were instructed to deposit the maintenance fees directly into it, starting in the month of September.
Omphemetse and her mother were not on speaking terms and were seen leaving court without talking to each other. The children's mother departed with the father she mentioned was at Sbrana Physcratic hospital, while the elderly woman got into a taxi.
These children are the offspring of her fourth-born daughter, Omphemetse Itshokeng, 47.
The case was presided over by Kanye Principal Magistrate Reuben Sebetlela, who had adjourned the matter the previous Monday. The elderly Tshegetseng, who relies on a walking stick, had stormed into the court, pleading for help with her daughter who she said was neglecting her responsibility to care for her four children.
Struggling to speak, the devastated grandmother recounted how she had been caring for her grandchildren using her old age pension money, despite Omphemetse, the children's mother, having a permanent job as a cook at Ntebogang Junior Secondary School in Kanye. Tshegetseng lamented that her daughter provided no financial support for the four children.
Last week Magistrate Sebetlela postponed the case to August 12th, ordering the court clerk to serve summonses to the fathers of the children so that they would appear in court.
He emphasised that cases involving children are sensitive and require urgent attention, as the children could be suffering despite having living fathers who could provide for them.
Previously, Tshegetseng had demanded P700 per month from her daughter to help care for the children, but Omphemetse claimed she could only afford P300. This prompted the magistrate to summon the fathers of the four children.
On Monday, the fathers, or their representatives, appeared in court. Tshegetseng was shocked to discover that some of the fathers were her neighbours and relatives, people she had never known were the fathers of her grandchildren.
Two of the fathers were represented by close relatives, as one lives in Boteti, and another is in prison. The father of Omphemetse's third child was represented by his mother, Boitumelo Kalake, who explained that the father was in prison. The magistrate warned Kalake that she would bear full responsibility for the child since she had chosen to represent her son instead of requesting the court to summon him from prison.
Magistrate Sebetlela reminded Kalake that her grandchild was suffering and starving, despite having living relatives. Kalake admitted she had only learned about the child when he was already schooling, doing Form One.
The magistrate rebuked her, stating that knowing about the child only when he was older was no excuse for neglecting him. When asked how much she could contribute to the child's maintenance, Kalake offered P150, but the magistrate negotiated it up to P250.
He also ordered that the child be provided with a school uniform and casual clothing. Additionally, Kalake was instructed to ensure the father appears in court after his release in January so the maintenance fee could be reassessed.
The father of the fourth child was represented by Kennedy Otlaadisa, an Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) former councillor for Bagami Ward in Kanye. The father, Thatayaone Boitshoko, was said to be residing in Boteti and is Otlaadisa's younger brother.
Otlaadisa claimed that they had previously expressed interest in caring for the child and had been supporting him. However, the grandmother had come for the child with police officers and often refused their financial contributions.
The magistrate dismissed this as an excuse and fined Otlaadisa P300. He was also ordered to provide the child with a school uniform and casual clothes. The mother, Omphemetse, was similarly fined P300.
Another father, Thatayaone Wanthata, who was previously said to be at Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital, was also present in court. Tshegetseng revealed that Wanthata was a relative whom she thought was married and never
suspected to be the father of one of her grandchildren.
Wanthata was fined P300 and ordered to provide a school uniform for the child. All parents were given Tshegetseng's account number and were instructed to deposit the maintenance fees directly into it, starting in the month of September.
Omphemetse and her mother were not on speaking terms and were seen leaving court without talking to each other. The children's mother departed with the father she mentioned was at Sbrana Physcratic hospital, while the elderly woman got into a taxi.
