An operation by Khula Community Development Project together with Mbizana Police and Social Development has yielded positive results as the 15-year-old girl from Qungebe location in Mbizana who was wedded to a 25-year-old man from Mmangweni village was taken from the husband’s home by social development, on Monday the 11th of July.
According to reports the two met and got married last year during the winter season. The girl says she was not forced into this marriage, claiming that she “fell in love” with her husband and got married in her will.
Meanwhile, Mangubelanga Dlamini who is the girl’s mother in-law says she doesn’t know the age of her son’s bride. Dlamini says her family did pay lobola to the girl’s family.
The minor is 8 months pregnant month pregnant now and has dropped out of school. Even though the girl says she wants the marriage and was not forced Mbizana police and social workers were obliged by law to take the minor in for questioning to further ensure her rights were not violated in any manner.
Human rights activist Petros Majola for Khula Community Development project says there had to be interventions as the child had to drop out of school after being married.
