Durban - The teenage father of a baby born last week has launched an urgent high court application to stop his former girlfriend from putting the child up for adoption.
But the mother, who is 16, has claimed that the 17-year-old raped her by forcing himself on her and, in those circumstances, had no rights to the child.
The application, which came before Durban High Court Judge Mahendra Chetty this week, is being largely handled by their respective parents because of their ages.
It was adjourned for a paternity test to be conducted.
The teenagers live in the same area but attend different high schools in the Durban area.
In her affidavit, the boy’s mother says they were involved in a relationship for 11 months and the girlfriend became part of their family.
In February, the couple told their parents that she was pregnant.
“Her mother’s immediate reaction was to insist on an abortion. This would never be morally acceptable for our family because we have strong religious beliefs.”
The boy’s mother said a further meeting was held when things calmed down and “all the options were discussed”, including the possibility of the young mom moving in with them so they could look after the baby while she returned to school.
“It (the meeting) was very positive and encouraging, although at the end her mom did say she was leaving the option of adoption for her daughter to think about.”
But the following week things changed and “she sent us several hostile messages saying we had brought shame on her family”.
“We addressed a letter to them indicating that we would do whatever we could to support her emotionally and financially, but the response was aggressive.
“The present position is that they seem intent on giving the baby up for adoption.
“My son wants to be involved in the baby’s life and he has acquired full parental rights and responsibilities,” she said.
The girl’s mother, in her affidavit, questioned whether the father really wanted to be involved, because he had initially wanted her to have an abortion, had later agreed that the child should be given up for adoption, “and even sent messages that keeping the baby was unaffordable”.
She alleges that it is the boy’s mother who wants the baby, “because she has an irrational belief that she must have the child come hell or high water as part of her atonement before God”.
She said the couple now looking after the child (since its birth) had been pre-vetted by a social worker and had been on the adoption list for four years.
“They will take good care of the child ... my daughter selected them. The necessary steps are being put into motion at the children’s court for the adoption of the child and the applicants (the boy and his father) are welcome to take part in the proceedings.”
She said a charge of rape had been laid against the boy “because he forced himself” on her daughter.
It was when she had discovered this that a decision was made to “cut all ties”.
The Mercury