Ex-football star in bitter custody battle

Mother accused of giving son dagga

A FORMER South African football star and his high-profile ex-wife are at each other’s throats again.

No strangers to the courts, and at times quite vocal about their dislike for each other, they are this time locked in a custody battle over their teenage son. The couple has not been named to protect the identity of their minor child.

Allegations of drunken debauchery and drug abuse are flying between them, but each parent claims they are most suitable to look after the boy, aged 15.

The former football star is heading to the Pretoria High Court next month to try to obtain an urgent order for his son to be placed in his care.

The boy is living with his father at present, after the former footballer allegedly arranged for him to travel to Pretoria without his mother’s knowledge.

The socialite, who lives in Cape Town, reported her husband to the police. She said in court papers he was not adhering to an order issued during their divorce that she has custody over their youngest son.

The footballer is adamant he is the better parent. The boy came to visit his father during the June school holidays and did not return to his mother. He did, however, visit her during the last school holidays.

The father said his ex had subsequently refused to send the child back to Pretoria.

Without his ex-wife’s knowledge, he had then “assisted” the child to return to him.

The mother, meanwhile, reported her son missing and opened a case against her former husband for contravening a court order.

“Up to date I was successful in convincing the police not to arrest me.

“I know she will not rest until I am arrested,” the man said, adding that his only concern was his child’s safety.

He accused his ex-wife of “forcing” the child to smoke dagga. He was also upset as she allowed him to get a tattoo. According to the man, she was not a role model for his child.

She responded that she may have made mistakes in the past, but had changed her ways.

“I have been clean for four years and I am proud of myself for being an example to my boys (the couple have another son aged 18).

She accused her ex-husband of “brainwashing” the child and said he had promised to assist the teenager with his “rap” career, saying he would arrange for him to record an album.

The mother included test results in her application to prove she is drug-free. She also invited the authorities to test her any time of the day or night. The woman also extended this invitation to her former husband.

She is not the drunk and drug abuser, she stated, but said her ex- husband was indeed that. She claimed that during a recent visit he made to Cape Town, he had been intoxicated and exposed himself to others.

The only issue the two did agree on, according to their respective court papers, was that the office of the family advocate should investigate both their circumstances to decide who was in fact the best parent.

‘I was successful

zelda.venter@inl.co.za