'I was forced into marriage'

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Monday June 24, 2013 00:00

 

Thipe was responding to questions during cross-examination by Kgosi Mothusi Tsetse of Otse, who was presiding over a case in which her three children have dragged her before the court. They were seeking the court to interdict her from carrying out any transaction with regard to a house that belonged to their parents - Thipe and their late father. The house has been vacant since their father's death in 2007.

Thipe said that she got married prematurely and her then husband forced her to drink traditional medicine to be able to bear the children. 'I got married even before I could menstruate. My husband then forced me to drink traditional medicine to bear him children,' she said.

Apparently, a conflict ensued between her and her husband and she left the children to be raised by their paternal grandmother in the early 80s. Arguing her case, Thipe told the court that her children should acquire themselves plots and build for their children, and leave her with the plot. 'These are grown ups, they should find themselves plots and build for their children, and leave me with my plot and I will see what to do with it,' she said.

Thipe, who is married to another man, said that if they can't find plots, her children should continue living with their grandmother and leave her alone on her property. However, the children and Kgosi Tsetse asked her where they should go for events like weddings or bereavement, and her answer was that they were old enough to see what to do.The case was emotionally charged with relatives of the three children accusing Thipe of being hard hearted and greedy.

However, she insisted that she had nothing against her children, and that she was merely protecting what belongs to her. The grandmother of the children accused her of neglecting them over the years, not sending money for their upkeep until they were grown up. Thipe replied that she sent monies when she got a job, but accused the grandmother of channeling the money to her private projects.

It emerged that when Thipe and her late husband divorced, the High Court did not divide their estate. She said that she was illiterate, didn't understand court procedures and that was why she did not enquire on the division of their estate.The case was deferred to Thursday for judgment.