Xingwana accused of using position in nephews custody battle
Image by: Martin Rhodes
Minister of Women, Children and People with Disability Lulu Xingwana has been accused of using her position to forcibly remove her nephew's two-year-old daughter from her mother.
The toddler's parents had been entwined in a custody battle.
The Daily Dispatch reported that the mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, claimed she and other relatives were manhandled by Xingwana's bodyguards.
However, Xingwana, through her spokesman Cornelius Monama this week denied the allegations, according to the report.
“The court found it was in the best interest of the child to be taken to Pretoria by her father where she would continue with her early childhood development,” Monama said in an email.
"The minister was there [in court] to support a relative.
“There is nothing wrong for the minister to be accompanied by her protectors.”
According to the mother, the case was set down to be heard in the Mthatha High Court last Friday . She did not attend after her lawyer reportedly told her he would ask for a postponement.
However, a provisional order was granted that the child be taken to Pretoria immediately and placed into the custody of the father.
The mother was also ordered to give reasons why the order should not be granted before March 1.
The report added that Xingwana's entourage had arrived at the mother's Upper Ngqwarha home in a state vehicle and that the normal procedures for handing over a child during such a dispute involved counselling.
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Xingwana accused of using position in nephews custody battle
For Commenters Consideration | Please stick to the subject matterCOMMENTS [7]
notyetuhuru
Posted 104 days agoRSA.MommaCyndi
Posted 104 days agoThis is arguably the most ridiculously pathetic of all of our government departments. Other than organising Women's Day parties and overseas shopping trips, it does absolutely nothing except cots us valuable financial resources
Sasha*-Fierce
Posted 104 days agobuddi
Posted 104 days ago“There is nothing wrong for the minister to be accompanied by her protectors.”
Instead of being in court (with her 'protectors') to support a relative she should be working at solving the rape crisis we have in this country.
Why does every minister have 'protectors' - what are they scared of?
skhokho12
Wiseguy
Posted 104 days agoYou see, this current government(with maybe a few very very occasional exceptions) is all about the chiefs......nothing more and nothing less!
The sooner they realise their own short-comings, the sooner we can get back on track to a better life for ALL!
skhokho12
Posted 104 days ago