16 Sep 2014

Seventy couples were formally wedded in Mathangwane recently to earn what the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso called dignity and recognition in the eyes of society.

Speaking at a Re a Nyalana mass wedding ceremony recently, Ms Tshireletso said the programme was essential because it had helped to restore self-worth in many families that had not formalised their relationships for years.

She noted that when a partner in a cohabitation relationship died, a range of problems arose including irrational claims of property made by extended family members. She added that family members usually ignored that the couple had lived together for years and worked for their property together.

Taking advantage of the fact that the remaining partner was not formally married, they often walked away with the riches of such couples without considering the fact that the couple had children who should be cared for.

She also observed that because children born to unmarried couples often used their mother’s surname, it aided unreasonable claimants’ greed as they usually argued that the children’s surname was different from their father’s.

Ms Tshireletso noted that the Re a Nyalana programme aimed at facilitating a formalised cohabitation so that in time of problems, the rights of the remaining partner and children were protected.

In addition, the assistant minister stated that it also helped children to grow well under their father’s surname instead of them having to always explain to their peers at school why their parents used different surnames.

Kgosi George Thwane of Artesia, who is a life time member of Re a Nyalana programme, said some couples had not been able to benefit from social programmes because of their informal relationship.

Kgosi Thwane also noted that because they offered pre and after marriage counselling to couples, cases of divorce and conflicts in families had been reduced.

He appealed for support from the private sector so that their counselling sessions could be extended to the rest of the country. Ends