An 82-year-old woman has successfully secured pregnancy damages and child support at the Matala Local Court after accusing another family of failing to take responsibility for a child born out of wedlock.
The court ruled that the family of a man who impregnated her daughter must pay six cattle as compensation, or a monetary equivalent of M1,666 per beast.
Mathabo Manyeli brought the case against ’Manapo Mosola, alleging that Mosola’s 37-year-old son, Napo, impregnated her daughter in 2009 and that his family had since failed to fully support the child, now aged 17.
In her testimony, Manyeli told the court that although Napo had occasionally visited the child and provided clothing, the two families had never formally met to discuss the child’s upbringing or cultural obligations. She said the Mosola family had shown little willingness to pursue marriage arrangements or assume full responsibility.
Manyeli further explained that paternity had initially been disputed, prompting a DNA test which later confirmed Napo as the biological father.
She also expressed dissatisfaction with an earlier ruling by the children’s court, which ordered that her daughter and Napo each contribute 50 percent towards the child’s maintenance.
According to Manyeli, the arrangement did not satisfy cultural expectations, which require the father’s family to formally acknowledge and initiate the child through traditional rituals. She claimed the absence of these processes had negatively affected the child’s wellbeing.
Manyeli asked the court to compel the Mosola family to accept full responsibility and contribute adequately to the child’s upbringing.
In her defence, Mosola denied neglecting the child, arguing that Manyeli had previously prevented her from visiting and had allegedly told the family the child was not their responsibility. She said this led them to stop visiting despite earlier efforts to provide support and settle damages.
Mosola added that the family was willing to pay compensation but required time due to financial constraints. She proposed paying M500 per month toward the total damages of M9,996, noting that they were already supporting the child and preparing for traditional rites.
Matala Local Court President Manthuntsi Ntšala ruled that the Mosola family must pay court costs of M382 and make monthly payments of no less than M800 toward the compensation amount of M9,996.
