16 May 2017

Youth couples have been advised to go for counselling before marriage.

Kgosi Batisane Moeti of Mathangwane said in an interview that some youth had developed a tendency to marry for the wrong reasons, adding that some get married for social status while others its for material gain.

Kgosi Moeti said when all the goals fail to materialise, such people come up with excuses which fuel fights that lead to divorce.

“Issues of divorce among the youth continue to increase and this has remained worrisome because some of the youth marry for the wrong reasons, and when they fail they end up their marriages,” he said.

Additionally, Kgosi Moeti said failure to take marital counselling and other relevant advices in a serious manner had contributed to the collapse of some marriages.

He said some of the issues that couples labelled as the root cause of divorce could have been settled through advice and counselling.

“Marital counselling is essential as it can help couples understand the scope of marriag, and through such understanding, they can be able to build a strong foundation and tackle challenges they encounter,” he said.

Furthermore, Kgosi Moeti criticised some families who demand unreasonable lobola charges with the intention to make quick money.

He said such a move negatively affected the sanctity of marriage and defeated the essence of bogadi.

“I have nothing against lobola charges, but parents should be considerate when negotiating the charges,” he said.

He emphasised that bogadi should be seen as a token of appreciation which also united two families for a good cause.

Kgosi Moeti further highlighted that unreasonable lobola charges encouraged cohabitation which in the long run fueled disputes over property, especially when one partner died.

In addition, he said cohabitation affected the upbringing of children, adding that some of the children raised under that arrangement become rebellious when they grew up.

Kgosi Moeti said some cohabiting couples, especially women, also end up being victims of assaults and abuse. ENDS