Lebohang Ramarothole, 41, of Ha ’Mants’ebo, has asked the Matala Local Court to dissolve his marriage to Makananelo Ramarothole, 39, of Hamatala, citing financial disagreements and tensions involving his mother.
Lebohang told the court this week that communication between him and his wife had deteriorated and that they frequently quarrelled over money.
He accused Makananelo of failing to account for how she spent money, saying it appeared to run out without explanation.
He further told the court that he once gave her money to pass on to his mother for insurance payments, but she refused. He also accused Makananelo of insulting his mother by saying she had bewitched him.
On her part, Makananelo agreed that the court should dissolve their marriage.
She said they had attempted to resolve their differences and that she had invited her mother and uncle to help, but her mother did not attend.
Makananelo also accused Lebohang of prioritising his mother financially, adding that she did not know how much he earned but that he sometimes asked her to share M1,000 with his mother.
While Lebohang was working in South Africa, he would ask her for money for transport or food. Makananelo said she questioned why he continued asking her for money from the M1,000.
She added that at one point she had borrowed money from a savings group but struggled to repay it.
She had joined other women in purchasing household goods because Lebohang did not give her money.
Makananelo admitted insulting her mother-in-law, saying she had reacted after the latter called her barren and accused her of witchcraft.
She complained that Lebohang did not stand up for her and alleged that his sisters also insulted her.
She further told the court that resolving family issues with her husband had become difficult because he frequently stayed at his parental home.
Makananelo urged Lebohang to keep his mother out of their marital affairs, arguing that the hostility stemmed from what she believed was false information he had given his family about her.
Matala Local Court president Manthuntsi Nts’ala postponed the matter to allow arrangements for the court to obtain evidence from Lebohang’s mother, ’Malebohang Ramarothole, who has suffered a stroke but can still speak.
