A Scenery Park couple has spent 14 years trying to get answers from the Department of Home Affairs about how one of them was recorded by the department as being married to an ex-lover – allegedly without their knowledge.
Bomse Qengqa, 57, says he discovered he was “married” to his ex-lover Sindiswa Mate as he was making arrangements to marry the “love of his life” in 2003.
After discovering the allegedly fraudulent marriage, Qengqa asked Home Affairs on numerous occasions how this could have happened.
“At the time, I wanted to marry the love of my life, Xolelwa Pliki, who I had been dating for a while when I discovered that I could not remarry, but was expected to divorce Sindiswa Mate, whom I had never married to begin with.”
Although Qengqa had had a relationship with Mate, he emphasised they had never married.
“I had dated Sindiswa years ago and although we have a child together, who is living with me, she was out of my life when I found out we had married .
“What’s worse is that I had asked officials to tell me who had approved this marriage, and who the witnesses were, but I got no answers from the local branch.
“It was only when I appealed to the head office in Pretoria that I even got to retrieve this fraudulent marriage certificate which states I was married at the East London branch on December 3 in 1998.” The frustrated couple said they had opened a criminal case with the police, but the investigating officer could not be contacted to confirm this.
The Daily Dispatch has seen documents and letters confirming that Qengqe had made various attempts to resolve the situation, to no avail.
Pliki, 39, who has two children with Qengqa – Sibahle, 12, and Okuhle, 4 – said their lives had been put on hold.
“It’s so frustrating what we have to put up with – although I am the one wearing his ring and the one he has paid lobola for and married through customary law, our marriage is not recognised legally and his ex-girlfriend has a hold over us.
“She could also gain access to our wealth which we have worked hard for ... it’s not fair and very frustrating,” said Qengqe.
Provincial co-ordinator at Home Affairs, Siya Majakajaka said according to their records, the matter was referred to the courts after the case had been investigated.
“The challenge is that our last communication on the matter reads back to 2008.
“But I will investigate further and establish what other measures need to be taken,” he said. — mbalit@
dispatch.co.za
Man discovers he’s ‘married’
Bomse Qengqa, 57, says he discovered he was “married” to his ex-lover Sindiswa Mate as he was making arrangements to marry the “love of his life” in 2003.
After discovering the allegedly fraudulent marriage, Qengqa asked Home Affairs on numerous occasions how this could have happened.
“At the time, I wanted to marry the love of my life, Xolelwa Pliki, who I had been dating for a while when I discovered that I could not remarry, but was expected to divorce Sindiswa Mate, whom I had never married to begin with.”
Although Qengqa had had a relationship with Mate, he emphasised they had never married.
“I had dated Sindiswa years ago and although we have a child together, who is living with me, she was out of my life when I found out we had married .
“What’s worse is that I had asked officials to tell me who had approved this marriage, and who the witnesses were, but I got no answers from the local branch.
“It was only when I appealed to the head office in Pretoria that I even got to retrieve this fraudulent marriage certificate which states I was married at the East London branch on December 3 in 1998.” The frustrated couple said they had opened a criminal case with the police, but the investigating officer could not be contacted to confirm this.
The Daily Dispatch has seen documents and letters confirming that Qengqe had made various attempts to resolve the situation, to no avail.
Pliki, 39, who has two children with Qengqa – Sibahle, 12, and Okuhle, 4 – said their lives had been put on hold.
“It’s so frustrating what we have to put up with – although I am the one wearing his ring and the one he has paid lobola for and married through customary law, our marriage is not recognised legally and his ex-girlfriend has a hold over us.
“She could also gain access to our wealth which we have worked hard for ... it’s not fair and very frustrating,” said Qengqe.
Provincial co-ordinator at Home Affairs, Siya Majakajaka said according to their records, the matter was referred to the courts after the case had been investigated.
“The challenge is that our last communication on the matter reads back to 2008.
“But I will investigate further and establish what other measures need to be taken,” he said. — mbalit@
dispatch.co.za
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