The Matala Local Court this week heard an unusual family dispute in which a 68-year-old woman is seeking to evict her own daughter from her home, citing years of disrespect and emotional distress.
Mampoi Matsoso told the court that she could no longer live peacefully with her daughter, Matsoso Matsoso, whom she accused of being abusive and confrontational despite being a mother of three herself.
Mampoi said the two have lived under the same roof but have been estranged for nearly two years, with little to no communication between them.
Testifying before the court, Mampoi alleged that her daughter frequently talks back to her and ignores her attempts at discipline, leaving her emotionally strained.
She further explained that she is a pensioner with no other source of income, yet Matsoso does not contribute to household expenses such as water and electricity, even though she uses them daily.
Mampoi also told the court that she has been burdened with household responsibilities, claiming that her daughter refuses to assist with chores, including washing dishes.
She added that the pair no longer share meals, as Matsoso allegedly gives away food without contributing to cooking. As a result, Mampoi now cooks only enough food for herself.
The court further heard that Mampoi had supported her daughter’s eldest child through school from preschool to Grade 12. However, she claimed that Matsoso abandoned the child two years ago, and she does not know where the child was taken.
Adding to the tension, Mampoi said she was shocked to discover documents at home showing that her daughter uses her biological father’s surname.
She explained that she was never married to Matsoso’s father and had no knowledge that her daughter had married in 2008 under that surname. The marriage certificate, she said, came as a complete surprise.
Mampoi also accused her daughter of turning their home into a boutique, selling clothes from the living room and cooking there, which has resulted in a constant stream of customers entering and leaving the house. She submitted printed photographs of the clothes being sold, along with copies of the marriage certificate and other documents, as evidence.
In her defense, Matsoso told the court that she would not oppose moving out but stated that she is currently unemployed and has nowhere else to go.
Court president, Mathuntsi Ntšala, ruled that the matter will continue on January 5, when both parties are expected to bring their witnesses before the court.
