Twins’ dad battles school fee debt
UNEMPLOYED and disabled father of twin daughters Mullen Nigel Marillier, 55, from Greenfields, East London, is accusing the justice system and George Randall Primary School of discrimination and indifference.
An East London magistrate has granted the school an order to attach Marillier’s furniture for failing to pay school fees, legal costs and interests, which have spiralled to R33 814.
Marillier said he has pleaded with the school to give him a job as a cleaner or grass cutter to pay the debt.
He was forced to quit work in 2004 after six operations to his left leg. Doctors wanted to amputate but he refused.
“The television that they will be taking belongs to my children. I’m not thinking about myself here.”
He said the attached furniture belonged to a friend, who moved to Pretoria and could not take it with him.
This is confirmed in a brief affidavit by Bobby Ugo Davids, 34, submitted in the court and seen by the Dispatch.
Davids states he gave Marillier a three-piece cream leather lounge suit, a flat screen Samsung TV and two other TVs, a washing machine, refrigerator, generator, printer, gym bike, microwave, kettle, laptop, and desk all for a value of R11 080.
On Friday, an East London magistrate gave Marillier 10 days to pay his debt or have the goods attached.
Court documents show Marilliers’ debt goes back to June 2014.
A warrant of execution dated October 9 states that he owed fees of R23 679 plus other costs and in the latest warrant of execution seen by the Dispatch, the final bill of R29 332 had grown to R33 814.
“What kind of magistrate grants such an order against a disabled person who can’t work anywhere?
“I am not physically fit to get a job.”
Marillier said his wife Kerri-Ann was also unemployed and they survived on handouts from relatives and the Bethesda Haven Hills church.
“My brother Daniel, who works in Cradock, gives me R100 per month.”
George Randall Primary governing board chairman Herman Goosen and school principal Gert Swanepoel referred the Dispatch to their lawyers.
However, Swanepoel did say the school had been doing all it could to assist Marillier.
“We even offered Mr Marillier to sign a reduction form so that he can pay less than required, but Mr Marillier refused.”
Swanepoel said he pleaded in vain with Marillier not to take his “brilliant” kids from the school.
“He came and wanted to remove the kids but we said we couldn’t do that because we can’t be punishing the kids.”
Swanepoel said he could not hire Marillier because he would not be able to cut grass with his disability. —