A Voice Reporter boarded a combi to Tlokweng last week Saturday to visit friends. Squashed at the right corner of the taxi, she sat next to three noisy passengers, a man and two women who were engaged in a heated conversation. Below is how it went.

Dress: Eish, this is not a good month. I wonder where I am going to get the money to buy my children Christmas clothes. The year is coming to an end and I have nothing to show for it. It’s as if when other people were working and saving, I was busy castrating dogs!

Jeans: Castrating dogs? You shouldn’t have bought that expensive handbag in the first place. You already have many.

Dress:. I think it’s high time I take every father of my children to the maintenance court. Each one would have to pay a thousand bucks. With P5000, I may not have to work at all. These two hundreds Pulas once in a blue moon does not help at all.

Striped shirt: Sies! You think that is cool. How old are you?

Jeans: And what are you? Old man mind your own business or are you one of the fathers?

Striped shirt: Watch your mouth. Are you a me-nice or something? You go around making children so that you can black mail their fathers? That is disgusting, selfish and reckless. Don’t you fear STDs at all?

Dress: I did not force them to make the babies and you should just keep quite because you have no idea how much I have suffered to feed and dress these children. They are their blood too and they have to help with their upkeep.

Jeans: Yes they should and the fathers of my children pay. I don’t fool around. If they default, prison is waiting. It is high time you Batswana men take responsibility and help in raising your children.

Dress: Raise how? I would never let a man come near my children. Whether they are their father or not.

Striped shirt: Now that is what we call selfish and panty blackmail. The men will be stupid if they fall for that. If I was one of them I’ll take my child. How would I pay P1000  for four other children who are not mine? In fact I’ll do a DNA test first.

Jeans: You do that, I go to court and file a case against you. I’ll tell all sorts of lies and you’ll never know what hit you. Before you know it, you will be paying more than I had initially wanted. You think giving birth is a joke. Mxm.

Striped shirt: Where are you from?

Dress: Why does it matter to you? You want to judge me from where I am from and you’ll go around accusing every girl from my village of being what you suspect I am? Go and take your children for DNA tests and you’ll suffer for the rest of your life. What would you do if you discover that your 10-year old boy who has been calling you daddy all these years is not actually your biological child? You already have a bond with the child. I put you to the challenge, do it if you don’t love that child,

Jeans: Uhu! Do you know the guy?

Dress: Very well and he knows me too. Why do you think he sounds bitter. He is Buti’s cousin.

Striped shirt: Ija! This is hard topic. I better get out before you split my lips with a slap. You are actually giving me a terribly accusing stare. Driver, stop there.

Driver: Where?

Striped shirt: (Shouting) You have passed the stop. Can you please slow down?  I said I want to get out.

Driver: I asked you where and you kept saying there and I am yet to get there!

Striped shirt: You always do that to women and with me you are not going to get your taxi fare. I’ll pay the other taxi to take me back to that stop.

He gets out and a new quarrel between the man and the driver erupts and true to his words the man walks away without paying leaving the driver furious.

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