Johannesburg - Radio and TV personality Robert Marawa is going to court to fight his former girlfriend for full parental rights and access to his young son.
On Friday, he appeared in the Atteridgeville Magistrate’s Court, where Zoe Mthiyane was demanding R29 000 a month in maintenance for their son, who turns 4 on July 18.
Mthiyane, who is expecting a baby with her new boyfriend, business tycoon and producer of The Lion King musical, Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake, has demanded: R2 500 for a driver; R1 625 for the child’s clothing; R100 for his toiletries; R1 427 for holidays; R1 350 for extramural activities; R8 750 for lodging; R4 970 for school fees; and R1 400 for after care.
It is understood Mthiyane is engaged to Lebo M. This would be Lebo M’s sixth marriage in 10 years. The baby will be his seventh child and Mthiyane’s second.
Mthiyane and Marawa’s legal representatives agreed to postpone the maintenance matter to next month to allow for further discussions, with the hope of reaching agreement. “I have been maintaining my child before, during and after he has been born. I am not seeking media attention and sensationalising an issue pertaining to a minor child,” Marawa said. “I’ve always sought access to my son. That’s what is important to me. People seeking to defame me will be dealt with. My lawyers are dealing with this. Access to my son remains paramount.”
In papers to be presented to the South Gauteng High Court on Friday, Marawa asks that he and Mthiyane become “co-holders of parental responsibilities and rights as set out in Section 30 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005”.
He asks that the court grant them “joint decision-making regarding the schooling, and extramural activities of the minor child”.
The court is also asked to award him and Mthiyane the right to joint care and contact, with each of them having the child on alternate weeks.
Marawa has submitted papers providing proof that he has provided for his son since birth. He initially paid R5 000 a month and other amounts as when required for the child. The figure was reduced to R2 500 a month about a year after his son’s birth as he was not sure what the R5 000 was being used for.
The Sunday Independent