I never refused to maintain my children - Tshanda

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Wednesday January 31, 2007 00:00

 

Speaking to Showbiz yesterday, the man who burst onto the scene in 1987 with the hit track Peacock cut a sorry figure as he narrated his story. He claimed that it was not true that he had distanced himself from the children.

'I only had a problem with the first born, because he was born prematurely and I was never allowed to see him but the second one I did not have any problem with her,' Tshanda said.

Since the case started last September, Tshanda has been dodging media questions regarding the issue. Now he says he is happy that justice had been done and is ready to talk.

Tshanda produced a letter that confirmed that he and Seleke had an agreement in 2001 after Tshanda paid her P9000 as final settlement of all claims she (Seleke) might have against him arising from the relationship with him and the birth, maintenance and education of the children.

'It hurts me that my fans are now calling to find out if it is true that I was rejecting my own children. It is not true that I promised to marry her and it is not true that I had refused to look after those children, they are my children and I love them,' he said.

However, Seleke argues that she did not take Tshanda to court out of jealous but that she wanted him to be responsible for his children. But Tshanda wondered why Seleke waited for so long to stake a claim against him.

'I have no problem that he has chosen to marry another woman, all I wanted was for him to help me raise the kids. I have done a lot following Dan around to settle this matter amicably, I would go to his shows phone him and wasted all my resources but he never showed any willingness to talk,' Seleka said.

The man behind the successes of Patricia Majalisa, Splash, Dalom Kids and Peacock, insists that he loves those children the same way he loves his other two sons Ndibvuyo and Lefuno born between him and wife Synthia Tshanda.

Asked why he would not give the two children born out of wedlock the same luxuries he is offering to the other two he said, 'Those children were not really planned for, we just had a relationship, so I could not really plan well for them. It is unfortunate that this thing had to end like this after we had agreed but I will do everything to make sure that they have a good up bringing.'

Tshanda lives with his wife and their two sons in the posh suburb of Wendywood in Sandton, Johannesburg, drives flashy cars and owns one of the most expensive studios.  However, he has been ordered to pay only P600 per month for the two children. 

He claimed that before he got married, he informed Seleke and she seemed to have been fine with it and that he and his wife had now agreed that they should take care of the other children.

'Even after the case, we have agreed with my wife that we should continue helping the kids and put this thing to rest. They are my children; I see nothing wrong with demanding a paternity test for the other kid because I just wanted to be sure,' he said.

Meanwhile, Tshanda and his Dalom family will be coming for another tour in March. Revellers around Gaborone will be treated to good entertainment once again when the Lions Park hosts the opening show on March 3.

This time Tshanda will bring along his countryman, controversial DJ Big T of Sister Bertinah fame. The track, which has a lot of explicit lyrics, has been well received by local fans.

The last time Splash performed at the Lions Park in December, local traditional artiste, Shirley Mokokwe, gave a good account of herself such that Tshanda felt compelled to record her.

'We are negotiating with Shirley because she has a good voice, is talented and appears committed. She will be part of the Lions Park show once again,' Tshanda explained.